#uncle ben

You know the “Peter Parker in Gotham” fics where Dick and Richard Parker are the same person™️ and Jason and Uncle Ben are the same person?

Hear me out…

You know how some iterations of Uncle Ben say that he was part of the military at one point?

You know the whole “Jason was a good soldier” bullshit that Bruce and Alfred pulled when he died?

What if, Jason finds out that alternate him’s headstone or eulogy never described him as a “soldier” in any way. At absolute most, Uncle Ben’s previous military superiors said that he was a great soldier in a one-off speech at his funeral and that was that.

What if, Jason found out that, the words enshrined on Uncle Ben’s headstone for all eternity, were as follows:

Here lies Jason Benjamin “Ben” Parker

Beloved Son,

Brother,

Friend,

Husband,

Uncle,

And Father

How do you think he would feel? Knowing that a different, alternate version of him who was actually a soldier received more acknowledgement and respect for his personhood and life outside of the “soldier” title than him? Knowing that his wife, nephew, friends, and loved ones truly acknowledged, saw, and loved him outside of his “soldier” title, even if it’s an alternate version of him? That the words forever immortalized on his tombstone weren’t “good soldier,” but beloved friend and family member? That when they looked into his eyes, they didn’t see him as their “greatest failure” like Bruce did, but instead, saw their beloved son, brother, friend, husband, uncle, and father?

Not a single person around them understands how they work.

Tony hates physical touch. Always ranting about personal space while Clint is leaning over his shoulder in the lab or rolling his eyes when Steve puts a friendly hand on his shoulder during his weekly check-ins.

But Peter? The kid could literally flop on top of Tony on the couch and neither would move a muscle. They just curl up where they are and continue on with movie night as if nothing happened.

The rest of Avengers turn with shocked faces, waiting for Tony to go off. And he just… doesn’t.

And sure, they all stopped by the lab from time to time. But, they knew Tony’s lab time was his time. Hell, even Rhodes and Pepper knew to give him some space.

Then, Peter bounds into the lab— Nearly tripping over his laces and face planting into the floor, Tony adds— And now, suddenly, it’s both Tony and Peter’s time. A guarantee that you could never have one without the other.

If that wasn’t strange enough to witness, Peter couldn’t stand gifts. Not just giving, but receiving too. He never really had the money to buy his own, let alone return the favor when handed a box with wrapping paper and a messy bow. Too polite for his own good, Peter would just find a way to turn them down. No matter how small, it always had some added weight he couldn’t put a name too. One that felt heavy in his hands and even heavier in the pit of his stomach.

So, Tony adapted.

Instead of upgrading Peter’s suit by himself, revealing it with confetti and balloons (His usual methods), he simply made the blueprints and showed the kid how to do it himself.

He knew about Uncle Ben. A few wine nights with Aunt May and the two had grown closer than he thought would ever be possible. (He really hopes she doesn’t share those embarrassing college stories…)

And, he was incredibly grateful for Ben. The man had taught his nephew pretty much everything he knew. In turn, Peter had grown up to be amazing. Caring and kind and so incredibly smart… And somehow so stupid at the same time, it hurt Tony’s head to think about.

He was just… Peter.

Tony wouldn’t have it any other way.

But, now that Uncle Ben was gone…

Spider-Man had taken the weight of the world on his shoulders, alone, at the age of fourteen. Enhanced healing factor or not, Tony knew those scars didn’t fade.

So, yeah. You could say Peter was pretty reluctant on asking for help sometimes.

But something about Tony was different... Or maybe all too familiar. Peter would light up at the possibilities of his current mentor teaching him, even if it was something as simple as fixing DUM-E after he set a fire extinguisher loose in the lab.

Tony would never say it out loud, but his favorite part was when Peter willingly asked him to step in. A simple “What does this wire do?” and something in his chest would bloom.

And he certainly wouldn’t say anything if Peter happened to silently leave a new piece of tech, built from scratch and scrap metal, on his workbench. The same wiring flowing throughout the thing when he spins it around in his hand.

Neither will acknowledge it. None of the Avengers dare to suggest it.

But maybe… just maybe… They weren’t so completely different afterall.

Maybe it wasn’t just acts of service, or physical touch, or any other language written in some book.

It was just something only they could understand.

And peter eventually grows to like them but if he eats those around them peter leaves the crust for them habitually

OR Dick leaving his crust for Peter cause he likes them now and hes got a ravenous black hole for a stomach??

Like genuinely, peter looks like he was definitely a picky eater as a kid and dumb enough to give away his sorely needed calories, but also it'd be so cute if dick lied abt not liking crust (despite getting made fun of for being a grown ass man) just so he can give a lil extra to Peter "other people need handouts more than me" Parker

Yeah I read USM for the plot

The plot:

May: Yes, he even had Human Torch bedsheets. Unfortunately, he accepted wore through the original, but Ben and I got him a second set–

Johnny *heart eyes*: He had the bedsheets? That's so cute.

You know who’s killed off in DC? Bruce Wayne’s child figures.