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Listen, Peter has been keeping tabs on this universe’s May. Why would he not? Maybe it’s not the healthiest thing and he should let go, but since when has he done healthy?
That’s how, after checking her Facebook updates (because his aunt is 21 in this universe so her Instagram account is filled with things he doesn’t want to know about her and, surprisingly, she uses Facebook) he finds out about May’s relationship status.
His aunt is dating a girl that looks too much like a certain Forehead of Security.
Her name is Hazel and goes by Happy. Holy shit.
Now, Peter is obviously very happy for them, but this raises a few questions. So far, he’s only met dead relatives. His parents were dead, aunt and uncle too, so to have Happy here is a whole new discovery. This means, potentially, other people could have counterparts.
It makes him think of his friends and other people. Could he find Ned and MJ? Or, even, Tony himself?
It scares Peter. He doesn’t ask Karen to find them.
He still stalks May and Happy, though. His Uncle Tim is oddly proud of him for it.
It’s been hard not to ask his detective family to track down everyone from his life. Peter thinks his grandpa did it anyway, but doesn’t ask. He doesn’t want to ruin the semblance of happiness he has. He can’t ruin another family.
So, he’s happy with not knowing.
They’re still in Gotham. Getting to know each other and preparing Peter for the mess that comes with being a part of the Wayne family.
“We’re still not sure how to introduce you.” His dad says. “We can say you’re a long lost cousin.”
“But I want you to call you my dads in public.” Peter pouts and his parents melt at the sight.
“He’s got your puppy eyes, love.” His pops teases his partner.
“We can stick to the cousin story but we can also add that you’ve actually been raising me for a while now. In secret.” Peter adds.
“I’m not sure that would be very believable, kiddo.”
“You’re rich, you can make it believable.” He rolls his eyes.
“Kid’s got a point.” Tim appears out of nowhere. His dads glare at him. “What? We can pretend, it’s not that hard. Plus, Babs and I have his whole papel trail covered for whatever you decide. He even helped.” Peter smiles innocently when Tim points at him.
His dad sighs while Wally jumps excitedly in one place.
“Okay.” Richard relents.
“Yes!” His pops dances in victory and runs to hug Peter. “You’re almost officially ours.”
Peter can’t hide his smile.
“Now, we have to talk about surnames.” Peter’s smile drops instantly at his dad’s words. Tim, sensing the mood drop, leaves quietly.
“Um—What?” Peter asks, fidgeting in his seat.
“Well, biologically you’re our son and legally soon to be one of our cousins, so we have to talk about surnames. Grayson or West, that depends on whose family you’re joining. Grayson-West has a nice ring to it, hasn’t it?” Both men smile enamored at the idea but stop on their tracks when they notice Peter’s hurt.
“I mean—I don’t have to change my name, right? I could be related through one of your mothers’ sides. It’s not a stretch to still be a Parker, right?”
“Peter, I—“ Wally starts but Peter interrupts him.
“I think I’m going to my room. It’s late anyway.” He flees. Peter manages to catch his dads talking before leaving.
“Leave him.” Wally says. “We pushed too soon.”
Peter thinks he hears disappointment. He hates it.
They don’t talk about it the next morning and carry on with their days like normal. It’s days later when his dads bring it up again. Sort of.
“I set some appointments to tour bigger apartments at Blud for next week.” Richard says at breakfast. Peter stills, it’s only the three of them since Bruce left early for a meeting he needed to be at and the others had school, Alfred is somewhere in the house.
“I’ll take some days off to be ready for the move, then.” Wally says excitedly. His pops couldn’t take much time off work like his dad did, so he was still working like normal.
“I found some amazing apartments close to our current one. Also, I set up a tour for the one we were going for before we chose ours, just for funsies.” His dad smiles but Peter doesn’t share the sentiment. “You’re gonna love them, Peter. We should also start thinking about schools, there’s a high school pretty close to my job. I’ll show you around the city as soon as we can.” Peter nods stiffly.
His parents must notice his lack of enthusiasm as Wally asks. “Peter? Everything okay?”
“Kiddo? Is this about the move? It was going to happen eventually, we can’t live forever with B.”
Peter looks away, suddenly focusing on his half-eaten breakfast. He’s not hungry anymore.
“Kiddo, we have to move.” His dad says with conviction, talking like that’s their only choice. It’s frustrating.
“But we don’t have to.” Peter says. “We—we have everyone here, who do we have in Bludhaven? And—and Uncle Jason is here and I could go to Damian’s school. You guys can still do you jobs because Pops is, like, super fast and I also heard about the Zeta tubes, which, is super cool and Uncle Tim told me he would teach me how they work—“
“Stop, Peter. Just—stop.” His dad stops his rambling. “We have our lives in Bludhaven, you were aware that we were going to move. Besides, the speedster argument? Works both ways, you can visit as much as you want. Still, that’s a lot to put on your father—“
“Dick, that’s not—“ Wally tries to intercept. An ugly feeling creeps from inside Peter’s stomach.
“—and I’m still the protector of Bludhaven, I can’t just walk away. If you’re worried about your future, very future training, we can talk about it later.”
“You’re just—going to do that? Decide without my opinion?” Peter asks.
“No—Kiddo, just—“ His pops starts.
“Yes. I am your father and what I say it’s final.” Richard says.
“Hey, let’s talk about this calmly.” His pops tries to intercept again but his dad is too focused on Peter.
“I don’t want to move.” Peter’s voice is barely a whisper. He thought he had more time.
“Too bad. Go to your room.” Both Wally and Peter’s eyes widen at the words.
“Love—“
“To your room, now.” Peter stares for a second and without making a sound leaves the room.
“I can’t believe he would do that!” Richard starts.
“Dick, shut up.”
“I mean, we spent four weeks here already. He has had time with Jay and everyone else. He already met your family, we already tested his DNA. His papers are in order, almost.”
“Dick, slow down.”
“And he defies us? We’re his dads! Why does he have to be like this?”
“Richard Grayson, shut the fuck up.” His pops sounds scary, there’s a bit of silence right after. “Our son can hear us.” There’s a hushed sound and Peter can’t hear their heartbeats anymore.
They’re gone, Peter fucked up again.
He’s never enough, not even for his parents in another dimension.
He quietly goes up to his room and lays delicately on his bed. He’ll apologize once they’re back, maybe there’s a chance they’ll forgive him. He can’t be a bother anymore, he should’ve just nodded and kept his thoughts to himself. It’s the surname argument all over again.
His cheeks are wet, but that’s between him and his lonely room.
.
“Are you stupid?” Is the first thing he says to Dick after dragging him to Keystone City, because his boyfriend—future husband, love of his life and, quite literally, father of his child—is fucking stupid. “Dick, babe, love, are you out of your mind?” Dick winces a little at his tone.
He’s pacing, he knows. His legs are moving abnormally fast, which is normal really, but this time is due to anxiety.
“You’re talking to our child, our fourteen-mentally-seventeen-but-i’m-doubting-that year old child, whose whole family died in terrible accidents, the last one being only four weeks ago, the child that just started to feel a little bit normal around us, that’s still adapting to fucking dimension travel, without tact? Forcing him to move just days after we had a major argument about surnames?” Wally is yelling, he knows he’s yelling and he hates it, but Peter is more important than keeping his composure.
“You agreed too.” Dick mumbles.
“Ah, yes, blaming me. What a great argument. I agreed to tour, and maybe I should’ve asked him, our son, first, but you escalated it!”
“He’s being unreasonable!”
“He’s fourteen! And he had a point. We could stay, he could go to Damian’s school, he could see Jason often, he could train with Bruce, we could be closer to your family! We talked about this, we were thinking about staying at Gotham more often than not! What made you change your mind? Why are you being so mean to our son?” Wally is furious. Sure he’s not perfect, sure he’s gonna fuck up to just like Dick did, like he himself in some way did just now. They’re new parents and they missed the baby-toddler-middle schooler phases, but his boyfriend is being downright stupid.
Dick stays silent. He looks ashamed.
“Was I really mean?” He finally asks.
“Yes.” Wally didn’t think it was possible to look this ashamed before. “What’s wrong, love?”
They’re sitting now. He didn’t notice before but he subconsciously brought them to the, frankly uncomfortable to sit, rooftop of his old Keystone apartment. Dick has his hands on his head, sighing deeply. Wally knows he’s not ready to talk yet, so he waits by his side.
He doesn’t know what has his boyfriend so angry.
“I’m scared.” Dick starts. He can work with that.
“I’m scared too.”
“I was okay with us two staying in Gotham, but now we’re three. I love Peter with my whole heart, it only took me knowing he was mine to feel that way. He's perfect, all I thought our child would be.” Wally has to make an effort not to vibrate out of excitement because his boyfriend just admitted he thought of their future children before. “But I'm so, so scared of fucking up and having my family there to witness it and judge me.”
And that’s the root of the problem, isn’t it?
“But, Dick, first of all, your feelings are valid, second of all, that’s dumb and you know it.” His boyfriend looks a little taken aback by that. “Yes, your family sucks sometimes, but that doesn’t mean they’re gonna judge you. At most, Bruce could give you some parenting tips but that’s it, and you can’t really trust those most of the time. As for your siblings, none of them have kids so their judgement doesn’t even count.” He grabs Dick’s face, forcing eye contact. “And we’re a team. Peter doesn’t have only one dad, he has two. And I'm very happy with defending my gorgeous, gorgeous boyfriend from the out-of-place comments his family might make. What happened to the Dick that stood up to Bruce when he asked Peter about patrolling just a few weeks ago?”
“That was an isolated moment.”
“But it doesn’t have to be.” With that sentence, Dick’s eyes sparkle to life.
“It doesn’t have to be.” He repeats. “Have I ever told you that you’re perfect and I love you very much?”
“Only everyday.” Wally laughs.
“I’m sorry, Walls.”
“It’s okay.” He pecks his boyfriend's lips. “We’ll learn together, you can yell at me when I fuck up too.”
They kiss again, deeper and sweeter. It's a promise, really. They smile into the kiss, surrounded by the traffic sounds up in a building. It’s weird, it’s them.
“We have a kid to apologize to.”
“Hm.” In true son-of-Batman fashion, Dick says.
It’s funny.
.
They definitely hate him. It’s been hours and they haven’t come back. He should’ve never contradicted them, he’s stupid and behaving like a child. He should know better.
“Peter, you are showing signs of a panic attack. I recommend calling someone.” Karen’s voice fills his ears earning a curse from Peter, he totally forgot he had the earpiece on.
“I’m fine, Karen.” He responds.
“Your heart rate is elevated. I recommend—“
“I said I'm fine!” He grabs the earpiece with ease and throws it away. He winces at the sound, he knows he’s being unfair to Karen as she just wanted to help. She can’t, since Peter was in the wrong.
His breathing is erratic, he knows. He remembers the instructions, in for four, hold for seven out for eight. He repeats it as a mantra. Too concentrated on trying to calm down, Peter doesn’t hear someone enter the room until a body sits beside him on the bed.
His first instinct is to attack but his hand is grabbed before he can’t hurt them.
“Breathe, Peter.” His Aunt Cass whispers.
“I can’t.” He musters out.
“You can.” She has too much faith in him.
Her touch is comforting, Cass tells him to match her breathing and Peter follows the instruction. In minutes, he doesn’t feel like his airway is obstructed anymore.
“Better?” She asks. He can only nod. “What’s wrong?”
“They hate me.”
“Who? Us?” Her expression shows confusion.
“Dad and Pops. They wanted to move and I asked if we could stay. Dad was so angry, they left. They hate me.” He shoves his body against her warm arms, taking the embrace.
“They don’t hate you. You’re family. We don’t hate you. Could never.” His aunt says reassuringly.
“But they left. I always mess up. I don’t deserve a family.” Peter feels the shift on her posture at his words.
“They will come back. Brother is angry, but not at you. He’s learning how to be your dad, still. He will apologize.” She says. “You are family, we love you like family.”
“You just met me.” He whispers.
“That is enough.”
“What if they don’t want me anymore?”
“Brother and Wally are happy. Happiest with you, they would never not want you.” She speaks with conviction.
“I love them. I don’t wanna ruin things.”
“Never.”
They stay in a huh for several minutes, Peter focusing almost exclusively on his aunt’s steady heartbeat.
“Steph wants to do a movie night.”
“Which movie?” Peter asks at Cass’ sudden change of topic.
“Legally Blonde. We are making Dad watch with us after dinner.”
“Grandpa doesn’t look like the type to enjoy that.” Cass smiles wickedly at that.
“Dad loves it.” She says. “Family movie night. You are invited.”
“Thank you, Aunt Cass.”
It’s moments later when there’s a knock and the door opens, both of them looking at the person who decided to come inside.
“Oh, Cass. You’re here.” His dad stands awkwardly.
“Yes.” The unlike you is implied.
“Could I—Could I have some time with Peter?” If looks could kill his dad would be six feet underground. Again, his mind supplies unhelpfully.
Cass glares at him but ultimately lets them be, not without bumping into Richard before leaving.
“Hey, Kiddo.” His dad approaches tentatively.
Peter is still in bed, trying very hard not to make eye contact. His dad sits beside him, much like his aunt had done moments before. They stay in silence for a while.
“I’m sorry.” Peter blurts out.
“I’m sorry.” Richard says at the same time. They look at each other, finally, both with confusion. “Why are you sorry, Peter? I'm the one that should be apologizing.”
“No, I should. I behaved like a little kid because things didn’t go my way and I made you angry.”
“Oh, Peter.” His dad says, and Peter stills. This is where he’s told to leave, his aunt was wrong and they hate him. “I wasn’t angry at you.” Or not.
“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.” Peter is confused.
“I did. I was the one behaving like a kid. I was scared and I took it out on you. I’m sorry.” Peter just blinks because he’s still confused.
“But—“
“Nope.” His dad shushes him. “I’m talking. Your father wanted to be in this conversation too but I thought I should talk to you alone first.” Peter doesn’t want to say that he can hear his pops’ rapid heartbeat just outside the room since his dad appeared. “Truth is, I am scared. Being a dad is new and I’m still learning.”
“I can go.” Peter jumps in.
“No.” Richard says immediately. “You can’t go. You’re our son.”
“But if you’re struggling so much I could just go and—“
“No.” His dad repeats. “No one is leaving. Yes, I'm scared but that doesn’t mean I don’t want you or that I don’t love you. I love you, Peter. You’re my son and you're staying with us.” He says without an ounce of doubt.
Peter is crying.
“But I mess up every family I’m a part of.”
“We’ve been over this, kiddo. We’re a family of vigilantes, you’re not messing up anything.” He says and sits closer to Peter. “You’re a part of us, and if we mess up we mess up together. Now, the one that messed up it’s me. Not you.”
“You?”
“Yes, me. I should’ve asked you beforehand about the move, and the surnames and school and everything else. I was thinking too much about me to see that we—you, your father and I, are a team. And teams plan together. I was too scared to have you here and mess up as a dad and have my family see it and judge me, that it clouded my judgment. Bruce and I have a good relationship but it can be hard sometimes, he tends to be a little controlling.” He explains.
“I can see that.” Peter is taken to that day where his grandpa asked about patrolling and how his dad was angry at that.
“But, that’s the only con I could find. Being around family more often could be good to us, for you and for me.”
“I understand now, Dad. I’m sorry I overreacted.”
“I overreacted, okay? So I’m sorry.” He makes it clear. “We’re going to have to work on our communication, huh? Mostly me.” Peter smiles weakly.
“Are we moving?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Your Pops and I talked and we had some ideas we wanted to run by you.” Peter perks up at that. “We could find a house here, in Gotham. Away but not too far from the Manor so we could stay close to the family. It’d have to be in a location close to Blud so the commute to work wouldn’t be too much, that way so your father doesn’t have to take me everyday. You could go to Gotham Academy with Damian and train with the family in the Batcave.” He pauses and then adds quickly. “When you’re ready.”
“You’d do that?”
“Of course.” Peter really likes this compromise.
Father and son hug.
“So you don’t hate me.” Peer murmurs, more to himself.
“Listen, kiddo.” His dad forces eye contact. “I could never, ever hate you. You’re my son, you’re stuck with us.”
“I like that.”
They resume their embrace.
“Do you think we should ask your Pops inside?” Peter nods. “Wally!” He yells and Peter giggles at the speed in which another figure joins the embrace.
“Hi, Pops.”
“Hi, baby. I love you so, so much. Your dad was being silly but don’t worry, I set him straight. Pun intended.” He laughs.
“I love you guys, too.” Peter whispers. “And I wanna talk about my surname.”
“We’re listening.” His Pops says.
“I love your names but I also love mine. I don’t wanna lose it forever, but you compromised so I want to do that too.”
“You don’t have to, Peter.” His dad is quick to assure him.
“But I want to. So, I thought we could leave Parker in my birth certificate but change my documents to Grayson-West. Is that—possible?” He sounds unsure.
“Tim and Babs can make anything possible, kiddo.” His dad says.
“Are you sure? We don’t want to force you to do anything.” His pops jumps is, shaken by Peter’s statement.
“A hundred percent sure.” He nods.
“Peter Benjamin Grayson-West, it’s got a ring to it.” His dad says.
“For sure.” His pops agrees. “And a Wayne-Allen by heart.”
“That sounds nice.”
Maybe he’ll have to be reassured a lot throughout their lives, but he’ll start to believe it eventually. Maybe even today.
“Aunt Cass said that Aunt Steph is having a movie night tonight.”
“Are we watching Legally Blonde again?” His dad sighs.
“Yes.” Peter giggles.
“B is going to be happy.”
“Oh, definitely.” Wally agrees.
“We should get going, Alfred must have dinner ready by now.” Peter says.
“Kiddo, it’s eleven in the morning.” His dad asks in confusion.
“What? But you were gone for hours!”
“Peter, we left for half an hour max.” His pops says.
“Wow, my perception of time is messed up.” He tries to remember everything he did and it truly wasn’t much. “Shit, Karen.”
“Language.” His dad scolds while his pops laughs.
Peter scans the room and finds his earpiece next to his closet. He quickly grabs it and puts it on, apologizing profusely to his AI. Karen, like the angel she is, forgives him and asks if his talk with Aunt Cass helped. It dawns on him that she must’ve called Cass when Peter threw a fit at Karen. She really always has his back.
They’re ready to go outside when Richard stops him, letting Wally ahead of them.
“Hey, Kiddo? You know we would be on your side if you decided to contact your Aunt May and your friends, right?”
“It’s a lot to put on them.” He answers.
“Maybe, but you know them, even if it’s another version of them. We wouldn’t be mad, and neither would they.”
“You can’t know that.”
“Let’s say I have a good feeling.” His dad winks. Okay, suspicious. “Let’s go.”
They go find Wally.
.
The man plops down on the empty chair next to Peter.
“Uncle Jason!” He exclaims in excitement.
“Hey, Peter. What did I miss?” He says easily.
“We’re staying!”
Peter and Jason’s smiles are blinding.