A field trip you can't flee
Peter hurries along the corridors. He’s late for class. Again. He couldn’t help it. He saw MJ and Ned goofing around and he just couldn’t tear his eyes off them. He has to stop it, or people will start thinking he’s some kind of stalky perv. He flops into his seat just in time for Mr. Dudderston’s lesson. He already knows everything in this curriculum, so he zones out.
He’s tired. He pulled (another) all-nighter. First he delivered several pizza’s. He started working with a company where he can just clock in whenever he wants to and deliver whatever meals are closest to his location. It’s perfect, really. He needs the money, because he has to pay for his own food and basically everything now aunt Ma- He gulps when he thinks about her, the guilt flooding over him. He did his homework the rest of the night. The rooftop he mostly sleeps and studies has a small area where the roof of the building next to it drops over. He’s hung plastic covers from the edges, so his bed and sleeping bag stay dry. There’s a few vents there that produce heat. The rooftop isn’t reachable from any angle, except from the sky. All in all it’s a decent spot to stay.
Peter applied to the extracurricular sports program at school, so he can end every schoolday with a shower. And an hour of gym, but that’s okay. It keeps him from getting stuck inside his own mind. He washes his clothes at the laundromat in exchange of helping the owner with her website, and some of the restaurants he delivers for hand him left-overs when he finishes his shift. Deadpool created his fake identity. He’s now Peter Wilson-Peterson, age 18, passport and social security number to prove it. That’s what you get when asking the merc for help. He supposes he should be glad it’s not Peter Booty or Jailbait Pete. A tiny smile tugs on his lips when he thinks about how eager Deadpool was to set it up. Wade found him on a rooftop just after Ma-, stop, just after, alone and devastated, and has been helping him ever since. He’s always there for him, no questions asked.
Peter then hacked the Midtown computer. He now is a student from Canada, entering the extra year at Midtown. A year between, for those who were blipped, those who don’t know which university to to or those who need some extra time because they were young geniuses and it’s no fun going to MIT at 12. It’s the same extra year Ned and MJ applied to. He made sure he put himself in another class than they were. He’s a masochist, but he doesn’t think he could handle thát.
Peter should be happy. He’s fed, dry and clean most of the time, goes to school, made new friends (well, two: Wade and Daredevil, but they’re both awesome and count double. Should he count Maya too?) and out patrolling. Why does he feel so empty?
He shakes out of his reveries when Mr. Dudderston claps his hands excitedly. ‘And now for something completely different, class! We've been handed a small Christmas present. I’m proud to announce we’ve been invited for a field trip on December 20th by one of the biggest tech companies in New York. Stark enterprises!’
Peter feels like he’s been hit by a bus. He doesn’t want to think about Tony. About all he has lost and the life he left behind. His hand shakes as the classroom explodes into chatter.
When they’ve calmed down, Mr. Dudderston continues. ‘We’ve only got 12 places, so the teachers decided our top twelve students should go.’ He bounces up and down his toes. ‘We’ve got two of them in this classroom!’
Mr. Dudderston beams in his direction. Peter feels dread fill his stomach. Surely he’s not…?
‘Miss Lopez, you’re the first.’
Maya is beaming. Peter smiles. He’s glad for her. She’s the child of two illiterate immigrants and had to start with a big disadvantage at Midtown. She was bullied as much as he was, he had found out during their study sessions. He didn’t know her, as she wasn’t blipped. Her parents had, though, so she had to take care of herself. They team up often, both brighter and more grown-up than most of their class.
‘And the next one is Misterrrrr’, he does a little drumroll on the table, ‘Wilson-Peterson!’
The last thing Peter sees is the floor of the suddenly spinning room. When he wakes up, he’s at the nurse’s office. Maya is there too. She smiles at him. ‘Nerd.’
‘Hey!’
‘Fainting when they mention a big science company. Nerdy nerd nerd.’ She smiles at him kindly. ‘But seriously? What happened?’
Peter fakes a smile back. ‘Must’ve… not eaten enough?’
Maya laughs. ‘Do you ask or are you stating?’
Peter laughs too. Genuinely this time. ‘I’m stating. Sorry, must still be a little shook up.’
‘I’m so excited to go!’ Maya exclaims. ‘Are you, too?’ Her shrewd eyes study him.
‘Yeah, of course.’ Peter manages to squeeze something that might pass as enthusiasm out. ‘Sorry, still a bit wobbly. Can you tell me more about the field trip?’ So he knows if there’s a way to skip it, he adds silently in his head.
Maya tells him which other students are invited too. Of course Ned and MJ are. Peter smiles. Of course they’re amongst the top.
She also tells them they can’t skip as their names have already been submitted, their attendance making up half their grade this semester. Fuck, there goes his hope. He needs those grades, he needs to be in the top percentage to get a scholarship to any university. Fuck. He could always call in sick that day. Yeah, that might work. He decides to put it in a pocket in his brain, like he does with all the things he doesn’t want to think about.
That’s how he finds himself walking to school to find a mini-bus waiting for him. Fuck. He’d totally forgotten. The amount of Christmas trees around him should've given him an indication of how close to Christmas it is. He wants to berate himself, but lacks the energy.
When he enters the bus, he sees MJ and Ned sitting there, huddled close together. They’re skimming some decathlon cards, studying them together. The familiarity tugs at his heartstrings. He feels his lip wobble a bit. Maya pats the seat next to her, right behind Ned and MJ. He sits.
Ned looks up and smiles at him. ‘Hey, uhm… Pete?’
Peter smiles back. ‘Peter. Hi, Ned.’
‘Oh yeah. PeteR.’ He stretches the last letter. ‘I’m sorry. You excited to go too? Maybe we’ll meet some Avengers!’
Peter smiles halfheartedly. ‘Maybe. Won’t be the same without Iron Man, though.’
Ned’s expression turns grave. ‘Yeah. You’re right, dude.’ He veers up again. ‘But maybe Spider-Man will be there!’
Peter is proud of the smile he manages. ‘He might. He’s been sighted there often, hasn’t he?’ He’s chosen the right words, as Ned beams back at him.
‘I would love to meet him. He sounds so lonely. Maybe he’s in need of a man in the chair.’
Peter swallows. ‘Maybe he is, Ned. I’m sure you’d make a real good candidate.’
‘You think so?’
‘I know so.’
Ned’s face drops. ‘I’m sorry, I forgot something.’ He turns back to MJ and whispers: ‘I’m having it again. That feeling.’
MJ looks up from her cards. ‘What triggered it?’ She grabs her notepad and flips it open, taking notes.
‘Not sure. But it had something to do with Spider-Man again, I think.’
Peter tries to shut them out, as he listens to Maya’s chatter. Before long a very familiar tower dooms up. He feels his throat constrict. He tries to shake it off. How probable is it he’ll see anyone familiar? Pepper won’t waste her time on a simple field trip group. Neither will the Avengers. And Harl- He forces the thought of Harley back into one of his pockets-of-things-not-to-think-about. Harley won’t be there. He cán’t be there, or Peter will break.
When they enter the building, a sudden irate fear comes over him. Maybe Friday will recognize him somehow? He feels the breath he’s been holding escape him as he walks through the security without any problems. They’re divided in three groups. Of course he’s paired with Ned and MJ. Luckily Maya’s in his group too. He will survive this. He cán survive this. He aims for a distant friendliness, one he’s been perfecting ever since... He pushes that thought back into its pocket too.
The four of them must create a working robot from the scraps there. He smiles at the memories it brings back. ‘Ned? Would you hand me the-‘ To Peter’s surprise, Ned hands him the exact screwdriver he’s been looking for. The both stare at it in bewilderment, frozen. How did Ned know exactly what was needed?
‘MJ?’ Ned doesn’t take his eyes off Peter’s hand.
‘I’m feeling it too.’ MJ looks at Peter wide eyed.
Maya opens her mouth, but is interrupted by the door opening. A very familiar voice chimes in. ‘Well, folks! Let’s see how far you are here!’
Peter feels his limbs wobble as Harley enters the room.
‘Peter!’ Maya exclaims as Peter’s legs give way.
Harley rushes over to him and catches him. He smirks. The one smirk Peter always loved so much. ‘Well, what have we got here? It’s not usually the cute nerds who fall for little ol’ me.’
Peter feels his resolve crumble as his tears splatter down his face. ‘Harley.’ He breathes in his scent.
‘How do you-‘
Of course he doesn’t remember him. How could Peter be so stupid. He pushes himself back. ‘I’m so-‘
Harley holds him at arms length. ‘I know you.’
‘No, you don’t. I have a very common face.’ Peter tries.
MJ snorts. ‘Uh-uh.’
‘I… that’s weird.’ He pulls Peter back in and puts his chin on Peter’s head. ‘Yeah. My muscles, they remember you.’
Ned chimes in. ‘I feel it too, you know.’
Peter is frozen in the spot.
‘Peter? You’re freaking me out a bit.’ Maya’s voice breaks the awkward silence.
‘I…’ He breaks down again.
Harley pulls him closer. ‘I know you.’ He whispers. ‘We used to… It’s on the tip of my tongue.’
‘Hey you two! Get a room!’ MJ’s voice turns wondering. ‘I’m experiencing such a flashback.’ Then MJ’s eyes widen. ‘Peter?’
Peter looks at her. ‘Yes, MJ- uh…. Michelle?’
‘Peter!’ She rushes over to him and pummels his back. ‘You fucking promised!’
Peter is stunned. ‘MJ?’
‘You loser!’ He can’t make out if she’s angry or relieved. ‘Ned. It’s Peter.’
Ned looks at her sheepishly.
‘You remember?’ Peter's voice breaks as he asks her.
‘Yeah.’
Peter feels happiness bubble up. Harley presses a soft kiss to his hair.
MJ gags. ‘Yeah, I remember that too. You’re disgustingly cute together.’
‘So you always say.’ Ned says. ‘Fuck! Peter! She always says that, doesn’t she?’
‘You remember too?’ MJ's face lights up.
'Yeah.' Ned beams.
Maya looks at them like she's the only sane person left in the room. Which she probably is.
Harley hugs him closer again. ‘I don’t. Yet. But my body does.’
‘Your-‘
‘Yeah, babe. My body does. It’ll come back, I’m sure. Until then, I’m not planning on letting you go.’
Peter sighs softly as he leans into the hug even further. He can hear MJ and Ned explain to Maya, but his mind is with Harley. Harley, filling the hole in his empty heart perfectly. He sighs again as Harley runs his hand through Peter's hair.
'Merry Christmas, Spider-babe.' Harley whispers.
'Merry Christm- oh! You remember too!'
Harley grins. 'Yeah. Your soft curls did it.'
'You always had a thing for them.'
'Never leave again, babe. Please.' Harley grabs his chin and presses a soft kiss to his lips. All will be okay.