Chapter 5
Peter woke up the next day feeling weird and different. He felt like he had beefed up. He had always been smaller for his age. Everyone pointed out that he didn’t look like a 15-year-old, but younger. He was never an athlete or fit like his parents. They were both in shape, with muscles, of course, to fight the villains. But Peter was never in awe of that.
Now, when he saw himself in the mirror, he looked... grown. As in, grown like a young man. All of that after just one night?
Peter was baffled. Snapping back to the moment, he quickly locked his bedroom door. He didn’t want his parents to see this and freak out.
He went to take a shower. The hot water felt good on his skin. He checked the hand where the spider had bitten him—it was redder and more swollen.
Peter came back and put on his school uniform, only to find it was too tight for him now.
Then he heard a knock on the door.
"Pete, what are you doing all locked up?" Stephen’s voice called.
"I’m changing," Peter responded.
He grabbed an oversized T-shirt and put it on—it now fit him perfectly.
"Alright, open the door. I want to check on you," Stephen said.
"Yes, Papa. Coming," Peter called.
"Friday, I know you saw this. But please don’t tell Dad or Papa about it," Peter whispered.
"I will if Boss asks me, Little Boss," Friday responded.
Peter knew he couldn’t override his dad’s command, so he didn’t press further. He opened the door.
"How are you feeling now?" Stephen asked, checking his forehead.
"I’m feeling better. I’m off to school," Peter said.
"No, you need rest. I’ll inform the school," Stephen insisted.
"I’m alright, Papa. I was just tired yesterday," Peter explained.
"You had a fever, Peter," Stephen said sternly.
"It’s gone. I promise. I’m ready for school. My bus will be here anytime," Peter replied.
"Where’s your uniform?" Stephen asked, suspicious.
"It’s torn, Papa. I forgot to tell you. It’s okay, I’ll wear this today. Papa, I’m hungry—please make breakfast. I’ll come in a minute," Peter said and quickly closed the door, leaving a confused Stephen outside.
Peter sighed and started packing his books into his bag.
Stephen returned to the kitchen, where Tony was serving breakfast to Morgan.
"How is he? Should we take him to the hospital?" Tony asked.
"He says he’s fine. But I don’t think so," Stephen replied.
"What do you mean?" Tony asked, frowning.
"He’s acting strange," Stephen said.
"Of course he is, he’s your son too," Tony chuckled.
Stephen shot him a glare, clearly not amused.
"Okay, sorry," Tony said quickly.
"Boss, Harley Keener is requesting access," Friday informed.
"What’s he doing here?" Tony asked with a frown.
"He said he wants to check on Little Boss," Friday responded.
"Tell him Peter can’t see him right now," Tony said.
"Tony, that’s not the way to treat Peter’s friend," Stephen said.
"Friday, let him in," Stephen added.
"I don’t like Peter’s relationship with this boy," Tony muttered.
"You said he’s a nice kid?" Stephen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I said he’s a smart kid. Not necessarily nice. And I think Peter might have more than just friendly feelings for him," Tony said.
"What happened to that whole lecture you gave me about Peter being a big boy now?" Stephen smirked.
"That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep an eye on him," Tony reasoned.
At that moment, Harley entered the room holding a big teddy bear.
"Hi Mr. Stark, Doctor Strange. Thanks for letting me in. I just wanted to check on Peter," Harley said.
"And what’s this?" Tony asked, pointing at the teddy bear.
"Oh? It’s for Morgan. Peter bought it yesterday, but I forgot to give it to him."
"Is it for me?" Morgan squealed, running up to Harley.
"Yes," Harley smiled.
"Thank you! I love it!" Morgan said, hugging it tightly.
"Morgan, go get ready," Tony said.
"Okay!" the girl said and ran inside.
"What happened yesterday? Peter seemed really sick when he came back," Stephen asked.
"I don’t know. He said he wasn’t feeling well on the way back," Harley replied.
"So, you two are in the same class?" Tony asked.
"No, I’m a senior student," Harley said.
"How old are you?" Tony asked.
"Seventeen," Harley answered.
Tony continued to glare at him, clearly sizing him up.
Peter came running down the stairs and leapt off the last step.
"Pete, be careful!" Stephen scolded.
"Harley, what are you doing here?" Peter asked, surprised.
"I just wanted to check on you. How are you feeling?" Harley asked.
"I’m better. Let’s go to school," Peter said.
"Have breakfast, Pete. You said you were hungry," Stephen reminded him.
"It’s okay. I’ll eat at the canteen. I’ll go with Harley," Peter said.
"Bye, Dad. Bye, Papa," Peter called, tugging Harley’s hand and rushing outside.
"You’re right—he’s acting strange," Tony said.
"Let him come back from school. We’ll talk to him then," Stephen said.
Tony nodded in agreement.
—
Peter and Harley were walking together.
"Pete, wait. Are you okay now?" Harley asked.
"Yes, I’m fine. Let’s go," Peter said.
"Are you wearing high heels?" Harley joked.
"No. Why?" Peter asked.
"You were shorter than me," Harley said.
"Maybe I had a growth spurt," Peter shrugged.
"In one night?" Harley raised an eyebrow.
"Let’s go, Harley. I don’t want to talk about it," Peter said, walking away.
"Wait," Harley said, grabbing his wrist.
Peter flinched in pain.
"Hey, what happened?" Harley asked, concerned.
He looked at Peter’s wrist. It was red and swollen.
"What’s this?" Harley asked, alarmed.
"I don’t know. It’s been like this since yesterday," Peter said.
"It looks worse. Did you tell your parents? What if it’s poisonous?" Harley said, panicking.
"Calm down. I’m fine. I don’t want them to freak out too. But now you’re freaking out," Peter rolled his eyes.
"Are you sure?" Harley asked, still unsure.
"Yes. Let’s go," Peter insisted.
Harley wasn’t convinced but followed him anyway.
—
Later, Stephen was in the Sanctum, studying an ancient book, when he got a call from Tony.
"Hey, Tony," Stephen said, answering.
"Honey, I’m a little stuck with this year’s Stark Expo. Pepper wants me at every meeting. So I won’t be back for a week," Tony said.
"Then who’ll look after the kids, Tony? I told you I have to be in Kamar Taj for the next three weeks," Stephen said.
"I know, but this is urgent. I’ll ask May to look after them," Tony said.
"Okay. Bye," Stephen said, hanging up.
"What happened?" Wong asked, sensing something was wrong.
"Tony has urgent meetings, and I have to leave for Kamar Taj. He wants May to look after the kids," Stephen replied.
"If you want, you can bring Peter and Morgan here. I’ll take care of them," Wong offered.
"Are you sure? It won’t bother you?" Stephen asked.
"Remember, I used to take care of Peter when he was little—back when you two were always getting hurt," Wong reminded with a smile.
"Of course. Peter loves his Uncle Wong," Stephen smiled.
"I miss the kid too. Bring them. I’ll take care of them. The Kamar Taj training won’t be short," Wong said.
"Thanks, Wong. I’ll tell Tony," Stephen said gratefully.
—
"So, Pete, are you gonna tell me what’s going on?" Harley asked.
The two were sitting in the canteen.
"Nothing’s going on. I had a fever, and it’s gone," Peter shrugged.
"Hey, Penis Parker! Did your daddy buy you this boy toy? I heard he even got into the Stark internship. I applied for it, but your daddy rejected me. Now I get it—he was looking for someone to sleep sleep with his son!" Flash said, laughing as his friends joined in.
"F*** off, Flash. You’re just jealous you didn’t get in. Unlike you, Harley deserved it. He’s smart enough," Peter snapped back.
"Oh? Where did you get the courage to talk back, Parker?" Flash sneered, grabbing Peter’s chin harshly.
Harley was about to punch him, but Peter beat him to it—one punch and Flash was knocked out cold.
"Pete, are you okay?" Harley asked.
"Yeah. Oh God! I didn’t mean to hit that hard," Peter said, panicking.
Flash’s friends dragged him away, glaring.
"You’ll pay for this, Parker!" one of them yelled.
"What’s happening to me?" Peter asked, confused.
"We’ll figure it out. Anyway, he deserved it," Harley said, trying to calm him down.
—
Peter walked home, deep in thought. He had super strength now. That much was clear. But how? He had been normal just yesterday.
Stephen was waiting outside with Morgan, who was already packed up.
"What’s going on?" Peter asked.
"Pete, we’re going to Uncle Wong’s!" Morgan said excitedly.
"Pete, Papa has to go to Kamar Taj for training, and Dad has meetings. So you and Morgan will stay with Uncle Wong at the Sanctum. Is that alright?" Stephen asked.
"Yes, Papa. But will you be safe?" Peter asked, concerned.
"I’ll be fine. It’s just training," Stephen reassured him with a smile.
Peter didn’t look convinced—he knew how his papa returned from these trainings: tired and injured.
"Pete, get ready. I’ll drop you at the Sanctum before heading out," Stephen said.
"Alright," Peter nodded and went to pack.
—
At the Sanctum, Wong was waiting for them.
"Uncle Wong!" Peter and Morgan ran to hug him.
"Hey, boy! You’ve grown every time I see you," Wong said, hugging Peter.
He lifted Morgan in his arms. "And what about you, missy? Did you miss Uncle Wong?"
"Yes! I always ask Papa to bring me here, but he says you’re busy. Will you show me magic?" she asked.
"Of course I will," Wong smiled.
"Okay, kids. Papa has to go now. Pete, take care of your sister," Stephen said, hugging Peter.
"When will you be back, Papa?" Morgan asked, pouting.
"I’ll be back before you know it. Don’t bother Uncle Wong too much, okay?"
"I’ll miss you," Morgan said, hugging him.
"I’ll miss you too. But Papa will come back when his job is done," Stephen said, kissing her head.
"Bye, Wong. Please take care of them," Stephen said.
"Don’t worry. You go," Wong replied.
Stephen nodded and stepped through the portal.
"So, what do you want to eat?" Wong asked.
"Pasta!"
"Cheeseburger!"
Both Peter and Morgan shouted in unison.
"Alright, then—we’re having both," Wong said, chuckling as the kids followed him.