Some Things Never Change
As the mixture inside the beaker got too hot, the glass shattered, sending shards scattering through the air. Time seemed to slow down for Peter, all he could think about was keeping everyone safe, including himself.
A sudden thought pulsed through him. Wouldn’t it be better if you just got hurt? The idea sent him reeling, but, somewhere deep inside him, he knew it was true. The moment of hesitation was just enough time for the shards of glass to cut into him, one cut on his forearm, and the other around his collarbone.
Then, just as it had all started, it stopped, and it was silent for one moment, before a loud chatter echoed throughout the room. The chatter amplified to a cacophony of voices, before Mr. Cobwell whistled, causing the voices to fade to a quiet whisper.
Peter stood in shock, his breathing erratic as he looked around. His eyes landed on Emma, who’s eyes were also wide in shock. “Are you okay?” Mr. Cobwell approached them. Emma nodded “Yeah, were fine” Mr. Cobwell squinted his eyes. “Nonsense, both of you should go to the nurse immediately!” Peter looked at him “W-were fine, right Emma?” Emma's nodded frantically, eyeing the cut on Peter's collarbone. She herself had a small cut on her face, but it was not deep enough to scar. Mr. Cobwell did not believe the two teens, and still sent them to the nurse.
As he began to clean up the mess, he looked at them. “What are you waiting for? Go!” He said, leaving Peter and Emma to walk to the door of the classroom, ignoring the stares that penetrated their backs as they walked out. As they walked through the hallway, Peter was trying very hard to not make things awkward, he was still very worried though. What if while the nurse was treating his cut, she saw the other scars on his arm? That would result in so many questions from Tony, and the avengers, and then spiderman would be taken away then-
“So, I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of that Flash guy…” Peter perked up, most of the people in his school basically worshiped Flash, and even though he was a bully who had no regards for anyone else, he was more popular than Peter would ever be. It made Peter insecure, and at times it seemed like the whole world was pitted up against him. “Me neither” The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them. Peter wasn’t one to talk about people behind their back, but there is always a first for everything.
“How badly did you get cut?” Peter was genuinely worried for the girl. “Not that bad. Just a minor scratch to the face and shoulder. What about you?” Peter pulled up his sleeve, he inspected the wound, careful to not let Emma see the faint scars that littered his arm. The cut itself was minor at best, life out being spiderman fared much worse. “One on my forearm,” He pulled the sleeve back down. “And one near my collarbone.” They were getting closer to the nurses office now, and Peter could feel the tension in the air.
What would Tony do if he found out? What would the other Avengers do if they found out? Peter found his breathing become unsteady as he approached the nurses office, it was like he blinked, and next thing you know, they were in the office, sitting on the plastic chairs.
The silence was there, pressing down and suffocating Peter, he took a deep breath and calmed himself. Everything would be fine. True to his beliefs, the nurse checked them both over, bandaging the cuts and comforting them. “Unfortunately, according to school policy, you must be picked up by a guardian after an accident like this.” The nurse said calmly.
Peter began to stress, how would Tony feel that he had to be picked up from school early? How would- Oh was the only thought that went through Peter’s mind as he saw Emma desperately talking with the school nurse. He picked up at the end of the conversion “Please… my foster parents are still at work and they wouldn’t like to be bothered!” Peter tensed, this was not a conversation he should be listening to.
But that didn't stop him from tuning the distressed tone of his friend. Peter grabbed his phone from his backpack that one of his peers from chemistry had given him. He opened messages and sent a text to Tony.
Peter: Hi Mr. Stark
Tony: For that last time, call me Tony, but what’s up kid, shouldn’t you be in school right now?
Peter: Uh about that, there was an accident in chem today, you need to pick me up
Tony: An accident? What happened?
Peter: Some vials were switched, and when they mixed the beaker exploded
Tony: Are you hurt? How did the vials get switched?
Peter: Me and a girl have a few scratches, but other than that nothing, and I don’t know.
Peter was not about to tell Tony the whole truth, it would only result in more questions and less answers.
Also, he was used to lying to Tony, and it came almost naturally now. Lying about the cuts on his arms, Flashes bullying, he had spun himself into a web of them.
Emma ws busy on the phone with someone, her voice tense but sad. “I’m sorry..” She said into the phone “It won;t happen again.” Tears were beginning to form in her eyes, but she wiped them away. Peter was worried about Emma’s home situation, he added that on his mental list of things he should ask her about.
With a text from Tony that signified his arrival, Peter walked outside. Maybe things would be different, maybe Tony would treat him as an equal. All of Peter’s hopes were extinguished when he sat down in the car. Tony cleared his throat before speaking. “Little Spiderbaby can’t seem to get out of trouble?” Tony laughed, not paying any attention to the teens numb face. Some things never change.