Chapter 2
A/N: Hello! I just want to say that if you read the last chapter before the 26th of September there was a part of it that got removed for some reason. I'll put it as a recap for this one, so sorry for the inconvenience. Enjoy the Chapter!
Recap: Entering the building, Happy approached the front desk and handed his ID over to a woman, who gave him a soft smile. Peter watched the interaction, and so copied it, sliding his ID onto the desk along side Happy's. She took both of the ID's and started typing something into her computer. After a few minutes, she put them back on the desk and pointed towards the other end of the reception to the staff elevator.
"Umm Mr.Hogan?" Peter mumbled, fidgeting with his hands. His anxiety levels were starting to rise, considering he was not doing the same, Friday routine that he was used to."The staff elevator is that way."
"We are not using that elevator today," Happy said, without even turning back to look at Peter.
Peter didn't know how to respond, so he just stayed silent, that was usually of the best anyway. They made their way over to what Peter could only work out at Mr.Stark's private elevator. Stepping in, lights illuminated the small space, as a cool female, obviously robotic voice, filled Peter's ears, making him jump slightly. he was not expecting it to be that loud.
"Good afternoon Mr.Hogan, Mr.parker," The voice said.
"Floor 3 Please F.R.I.D.A.Y," Hogan replied, putting his arm out to force Peter back into the elevator as the doors shut. Peter glanced round the small space, taking in as much as he could. The walls of the elevator, were very similar to the elevators you found in malls, but it had a more sleek look of it that was instantly recognisable as a work of The Tony Stark.
Peter's nerves were already high, so it didn't help that the ding of the elevator reaching the floor was unexpected and sent Peter flying about three feet in the air. His hands were sweaty from ringing them so much, and he felt the impending feeling of a headache approaching, due to the overstimulation. So when Tony Stark himself greeted them at the doors, Peter felt as though he could faint right on the spot.
Peter was stunned that Mr. Stark was standing in front of him. He had a towel in his hands, rubbing the oil off his fingers.
"Hey kid, You ready to look at the design I came up with?" Tony gave a smile, admiring the look of disbelief on Peter's face." You can stop goggling by the way."
"Oh yeah, sorry," Peter stuttered, blushing profusely, his fingers studying the wrinkles of his knuckles. "Design for what?"
"Your eco-generator, that's the reason you are here, right?" Tony looked puzzled, did the kid not understand what he was doing here?
"Oh right, sorry, Mr. Stark, my brain is a bit all over the place right now," Peter felt frustrated with himself, he was such an embarrassment.
"That's alright, I would feel the same way if I was you," he held his arm out to motion Peter to follow him. Peter seeing the gesture sheepishly got out of the elevator, and followed Mr.Stark, his eyes staying firmly glued to the floor.
They walked in silence all the way to Mr.stark's lab, however unlike the car ride, this silence was an awkward one, one that was thick in the air. Both of them noticed it, but neither wanted to address it. Peter picked at the edges of his sweater, releasing loops of fabric that he. could wrap his fingers round, one of the many nervous stims that he seemed to have developed. His heart rate heightened slightly, and he could feel the walls beginning to close in. Peter shook his head violently, trying to get the nervous feeling out of his head. Stop it! I'm going to be fine!
They reached the lab, Peter's feet hurting at the sheer length of the journey. Mr.Stark threw the doors open, revealing the huge room that lay beyond. Suits lined the wall, each one looking more modern than the last. There were tools that were scattered across the various different desks that littered the room, each desk seemed to have its own use. One of the desks was covered in blueprints, and Peter couldn't help but wander over to get a seek-peek at what Mr.Stark was working on. He pushed apart some of the papers to find that his original model for his 'eco generator' was in the mix. A smile forced its way onto Peter's face, and he turned away to find something else fascinating to look at.
"Mr.Stark , I just want to say thank you for inviting me up here," Peter said sheepishly, glancing at the floor.
"You're welcome Kid, besides who else would I have had to help make this generator?" Mr. Stark replied, a screwdriver already in his hand. "Come sit, we have a lot of work to do."
Peter, walked over to meet Mr.Stark, placing his school bag down on the floor. They spent the rest of the afternoon talking and working on the generator. Peter had the best time for a long time, even the dreaded feeling of going home that night. He didn't even feel the need to mask his feelings anymore, and Mr.Stark seemed to notice. The kid is much more talkative now. It wasn't until there was a ping from Peter's phone that either of them looked up from the blueprints that they were both hunched over.
MAY Be home by 5:30 or there will be consequences. Love you xx
Peter sighed, his overall mood lowering, knowing that the affection at the end of the text was just a cover, incase someone was reading over his shoulder. He glanced at the top of the phone to see the time: 17:15. His eyes grew wide. Shit. It would take 20 mins to get back to the apartment. And he didn't have that much time. He gathered all of his things and left without saying anything to Mr.Stark.
He practically ran all the way back, and by the time he reached the apartment door, he was heaving, his vision blurry and his heart racing as though it was about to take off. Before he could even reach to put his key in the lock, the door opened to see his Aunt May looking at him with a sickeningly sweet smile.
"Hello..." She was watching Peter standing there struggling to catch his breath." You're late-"
"What?! B-but I made sure that I was h-home on time, I-i don't understand!" Peter heaved, panic slowly setting in.
"Oh but you didn't make sure enough, did you?" May's voice was laced with venom, her hand resting lightly on the doorframe."Get in."
Peter trudged inside, preparing for the worst. His Aunt was rarely physically abusive, but it didn't mean she didn't have it in her. She grabbed the back of Peter's sweater, causing him to lose his balance, and he staggered."What was that for?!" He shouted.
"It's your punishment, considering you were late," May chuckled. She grabbed his neck, allowing her long nails to sink deep into peter's skin. Peter winced, scrunching his eyes up, willing the pain that spread across his neck to fade. With her hands still around his neck, she threw him down on the ground. Peter felt the crunch of kitchen tiles, as his face hit the floor." P-please..." he begged. He felt may kick his back as he lay there crumpled, trying to seem as small as possible. Peter would have understood her actions if she were drunk, as she wouldn't really know the extent of her actions, however it was common knowledge throughout the community that May Parker didn't drink. This just made Peter feel worse, knowing that she was fully competent and understood what she was doing, and to top it all, she meant it.
After what seemed like hours, May gave Peter one last half-hearted kick, huffed and walked in the living room. Peter groaned, pulling himself up with his hands. Cuts covered both his hands and his face. He limped all the way to his bedroom, quietly shutting the door behind him, and letting a huge sigh leave his chapped lips. Suddenly, Peter realised how exhausted he really was. The adrenaline from worrying about being late had finally worn off. He didn't bother to check over his various cuts, as he knew that within a matter of minutes, his advanced healing would kick in, he could already feel his skin slowly start to knit back together. He got changed into his pyjamas and crawled into bed, dragging the cover practically over his head. Tomorrow was a new day, he thought. That was the final thought he had before the comforting blanket of darkness slowly enveloped him.