Catching Up
“Aunt Harley, Aunt Pam, I’m here!” Peter was met with Harley nearly bowling him over, which she absolutely would have, if Peter wasn’t a weird spider person now.
Peter beamed and swept Harley off her feet, swinging her around in a circle while she cackled loudly. He set her down and received a more low-key, but not lesser hug from Pam, who held Peter close. They moved to the couch, where the interrogation began.
“Are you okay? We saw the segment of the Metropolis news, we were so worried!” Ivy said, staring at Peter with her intense green eyes.
Peter chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. “I’m fine, Aunt Pam. It was terrifying, but I’ve gotten used to field trips being… not so great for me.”
“Jason tells us you’re in therapy! How’s that going?” Harley gushed, holding Peter’s hands.
“It’s going great! Their name is Ari and they don’t take any shit. At all. Fortunately and unfortunately, that means that she calls me out on everything.”
“Like what?”
“Like when I’m automatically putting the value of someone’s life higher than mine.”
Harley let go to pump her fist. “Yes! Good! I love ya, sweetie, but goddamn do you have issues!”
Peter snorted, shaking his head. “I’m sure I do.”
“How’s Tim?” Ivy asked.
“Oh, he’s doing great! He was a little shaken up after Metropolis also, but he’s fine. Oh! We did some tests! I can lift 15 tons now! I used to be only able to lift 10! And I kinda produce venom now? Also I can do this.” Peter shot a web at the corner before immediately pulling it down and wadding it into a little ball that he tucked into his pocket.
Ivy stared at him with concern while Harley had wide eyes and the biggest fucking grin. “Have you experienced any adverse effects due to this?” Ivy wondered.
“I mean, it’s harder to resist spinning a web in the corner and just chilling there, but I’ve already had years of practice ignoring that part of my brain.”
Harley examined Peter’s spinnerets, exclaiming, “Peter! That is so fucking cool!”
Peter giggled. “Just don’t touch them directly, please.”
“Why not?”
Peter turned beet red and refused to meet her eyes. “I— I don’t wanna say.”
That got an eyebrow raise from both women, which just made Peter’s face heat up even more. “I don’t wanna talk about it,” Peter reiterated.
“Alright,” Ivy soothed. “How about friends? Have you made any more at school?”
“Not really, but I’m okay with that.”
“How about the opposite of friends?” Harley inquired.
“Yeah, I’ve got plenty of those.”
“You break any of their noses yet?”
Ivy glared at Harley and slapped her lightly on the arm. “What?” Harley asked. “It’s a valid question!”
Peter laughed, shaking his head. “Nah. Some kids think they know that I’m an alien though.”
“But you’re not?” Ivy squinted her eyes.
“Yeah, I know. It’s more fun this way.”
“That’s my boy!” Harley cheered. “So, bullies or enemies?”
“Bullies, the normal.”
“That’s normal for you?” Ivy asked, concern lacing her voice.
“Yeah, but it’s okay. I’m used to it. I’m smarter than them, poorer than them, and I’m weird. Those combine to make someone other kids kinda naturally hate?”
Harley whistled. “Damn kid, got it in one. You doing okay? The little birdies are helping you out, right?”
“I don’t let them retaliate in any way, if that’s what you mean. Otherwise though, they are absolutely helping! I have friends! Cool friends, nerdy friends! I have a boyfriend, I’m in therapy, life is pretty good right now!”
Ivy and Harley shared a warm smile. “Good. That’s all we want, Peter. We just want you to be happy.”
“So, any new Gotham Gossip?” Bob asked his friends.
“I don’t know about Gotham Gossip, but four kids and Jimmy and Lois were held captive by General Zod,” Wade remarked, looking directly at Mark.
“What?” he sputtered. “Don’t look at me like that! Not everything that happens in Metropolis is my fault, I’ve lived in Gotham with you numpties for years!”
“Yeah, but you’re still a Metro boy at heart, aren’t you?” Bob jabbed.
“Nyah, nyah, nyah,” Mark mocked. “Blame everything on Mark, why don’t we?”
“Hey, Mark, guess what?” Wade asked with a shit-eating grin.
“What?”
“Our city has a good billionaire. What does Metropolis have, a bald piece of shit with some rocks and a grudge?”
Mark pouted, folding his arms. “You guys are mean.”
“No, we’re just proud of our city, Metropolis Boy.”
“I’m proud of my city too! You’re right, I am a Metropolis boy, and my city is amazing, thank you very much. At least we don’t have shitty ‘do the butts match’ memes.”
“How dare you, those memes are legendary,” Bob replied, offended.
“You know what else Gotham doesn’t have? Several Pulitzer Prize winning journalists, that’s what! Hmm, what do you have to say about that, huh?”
“I say we have the better versions of the Kardashians, that’s what,” Bob said.
“Speaking of which, can we just congratulate Mr. Drake for having a boyfriend? Good for him,” Wade enunciated. “While I’m at it, if you are one of the people pestering the poor kids to learn Tim’s partner’s name, then you’re not a Distractible fan and you should be ashamed of yourself.”
“Amen!” Bob cried.
“Instead,” Wade continued, “we could continue to mock Metropolis.”
“Oh, it was so nice!” Mark complained. “And then you just had to go there, huh?”
Wade and Bob laughed at their poor little Metropolis friend, who was pouting in the corner before changing the subject.