InsaneJournal

WHO: Peter Parker & Ghostly Richard Parker
WHAT: Richard visits his boy.
WHERE: Peter’s Room
WHEN: Christmas Eve
RATING: PG
STATUS: Completed via GDOC.
[[Thanks to Julia for playing Richard!]]


Richard knew he was dead and didn’t have much time when he arrived in his son’s room so he didn’t waste precious moments. “Peter,” he called quietly. “Peter, please wake up, son.” He watched over his child so he knew he had Spidey Sense so he didn’t touch him. He didn’t want to frighten Peter, although he guessed that might be unavoidable given the situation.

May was being awesome and letting Peter sleep in during their winter break. It was Christmas Eve and he didn’t have to work that day. The cookie exchange wasn’t until later, so of course he was going to try and get a couple of extra hours, especially when he’d probably have a long day of playing with an eager four year-old the next day.

He heard the voice calling him. That was weird. It was a man’s voice and, in his dream, it could have been the intergalactic hero urging him to help join the fight. But Peter blinked himself awake and still heard the voice. And then he saw the figure near his bed and he nearly came out of his skin. “What… I’m armed?” he said half-heartedly, his mostly still asleep voice making it pretty evident he wasn’t.

He reached over to his nightstand and turned on the light to make the room a bit more clear and that’s when he nearly fainted. “Am I still asleep?” He knew that face. He had very vague memories of that face. It had been years but he could still sort of remember his dad picking him up from daycare for hugs and kisses or sneaking him marshmallows when his mom wasn’t looking. And of course, photos existed.

This wasn’t possible.

Richard chuckled at his son’s joke. He knew it had been years for Peter, but the man watched him grow up from above. “No, my boy, you are wide awake now. We don’t have much time so…” Richard held his arms out. “Please, I’ve waited so long.”

Peter had seen a lot of weird things over the last few years. Hell, he was a weird thing, honestly. But his dad? Here, in his room? Asking for a hug?

Well, he wasn’t going to say no. Even if this was a dream he’d wake up from, Peter knew an opportunity when he saw it. He practically launched himself into his dad’s waiting arms. “How are you here? What do you mean we don’t have much time?” It sounded like the plot to some movie, where he’d been kidnapped or something. But that didn’t mean he was holding on any less tightly.

“I’m only here to say hello,” Richard explained. “I’m not like the rest of you.” He squeezed his son and tousled his hair. “Your mother says hello. Hopefully she can make the trip one day.” He released Peter, but kept his hands on his shoulders. “We are both so proud of you. You are a hero with or without your powers. And we’re so grateful to May and Ben for raising you into such a good young man.”

That was disappointing. For a brief moment, especially when his dad was actually tangible, Peter had thought maybe his dad was a new recruit through whatever had brought them all here. He remembered his talk with May, about how they were actually in a world now where with luck, Ben could come through. But apparently that wasn’t the case here. He leaned back, eyes searching his father’s face, desperately trying to commit the moment to memory. “You know about my powers? Do you…do you know that Ben…died?” He was seventeen and still didn’t like to say the word ‘killed’. That was just too much to ask.

Sadness briefly flickered across Richard’s face. “I know,” he said softly. “I’m so sorry. You and May lost so much.” He shook his head. “But we’ll all be together someday. I promise. Hopefully a little longer for you.” He cupped Peter’s chin. “Until then, I want you to keep your optimism and your love of others. Promise me, son.”

It felt good to be called ‘son’ by his actual dad. Ben had sometimes, and Tony had let it slip a time or two. But his actual father? Peter’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m trying. I really am, I promise. It’s just not always easy.” How could it be, when every time he did, something kicked him down? …sometimes literally.

Richard hugged his son again and then wiped at the boy’s eyes. “I know, buddy, I know, but you are doing so well. And you have people who will help you when you get too down. That’s okay too, you know. Having bad days? They happen to everyone.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss against Peter’s forehead. “Is there anything you want to ask me while I’m here?”

“I don’t know,” Peter admitted. He was still reeling. This wasn’t the wakeup call he’d expected. Should he tell May her brother was here? Probably. But he was sort of enjoying having his dad to himself for a bit. “I didn’t exactly write out a list. I… When I was old enough to go out on my own, I’d go see you and Mom sometimes. I’d talk to you there. I didn’t think you could hear me, but I wanted to tell you about things anyway.”

“We can hear you,” Richard assured. “We are always with you, looking down. We can’t interfere, but we watch and we try to send signs.”

Now he would always wonder. He'd wonder if every little surprise good thing in his life was his parents. He knew if he went home, he'd wonder if Tony would check in on him or just Morgan and Mrs. S. And that was almost harder, the not knowing. But also...comforting? Definitely.

And then, though he tried to blink them back, Peter was crying. "Are...are you really proud of me? I haven't always done the right things. I try, I really do, but I mean, it's just a lot sometimes and…" His voice cracked and he couldn't finish his sentence without breaking down even more.

Richard traced Peter’s cheeks with his thumbs. Touch was powerful and he missed it. “Of course I am. Mom too. You always try to fix your mistakes and usually your heart is in the right place. You take after Ben in a lot of ways so you are named appropriately. Please don’t beat yourself up, son. You are so young, with so much on your shoulders, but you wear it well.” He wiped Peter’s tears and pulled him close once more. “Tell May we love her and thank her.”

"She...she can't see you, can she?" He didn't know why he didn't think of that. Maybe because his dad was corporeal and he could actually touch him. And Peter had definitely not known how badly he needed that touch. He reached out, clinging to his father once more. Knowing they didn't have much time made it that much more important to him. "I'll tell her. She did a good job. Especially after...after Ben."

“She can’t,” Richard said quietly. “Someone else needed to see her tonight.” He let Peter cling as he rubbed his back. “She loves you and I’m forever grateful for it.” They chose May and Ben with great care, but May wasn’t blood so he wouldn’t have blamed her if she was less involved in Peter’s upbringing, but she took on the role of his second mother with relish, never wavering even with Ben’s death or Peter’s superheroing. “We are happy she has more support with Pepper and Tony now. Keep found family close, Peter. We send you people you need. Ned too. Tell him we love him like another son.”

"Ben," Peter said softly, not really a question. Who else would go to May right now? "She's been amazing. I mean… I wish I'd had all of you. But she really stepped up. I could have ended up in the system but she wouldn't allow it." Sometimes he forgot that May wasn't even blood family. She'd been mom, dad, aunt, and uncle to him. "I'm learning a lot about chosen family. Most of the other Avengers, they've been really good to me, too."

Richard nodded. “I know, buddy, I wish we had all been there too, but we’ll be together someday. Until then I want you to live fully, happily.” He took Peter’s hands and held them in his. “Promise,” he said, sensing their time was drawing to a close.

The urgency in his dad’s voice just...really sucked. Peter wasn't stupid. Never mind the "Peter Tingle", he knew what it meant when an adult got urgent with him. He gulped. Though he didn't like thinking about his death - something he knew was likely to come earlier than planned thanks to this chosen life of his - he did appreciate knowing there would be something good in the end.

...if said chosen life didn't rule him out of that. But that was for later. Now he held his dad’s hands in his. "I will. I promise. I'll do my best."

Richard grinned, leaned in to plant a last kiss on his child’s cheek and said, “I must go now. Be our good boy.” His form started to glitch and then Peter was left without his father, but never alone.