Peace of mind?
After a really rejuvenating week with Tony and a lot of May's Facetime strength talks, it was morning for school. It had been a quick trip the arrival, however the day was far from kind after enduring the actions of Flash's friends.
Peter left the school with his head down, feeling overwhelmed by the unfairness of the situation and the imposed suspension. However, the worst was yet to come. He had barely taken a few steps out of the school when Flash Thompson, filled with anger and resentment, lunged at him.
Flash began to beat Peter mercilessly, taking advantage of the situation and blaming him for his suspension. Peter, trying to defend himself and resist, but he knew he couldn't hit him, maybe he could kill him with one punch.
"You're such a loser, Parker! You've always been a wimp and now everyone sees it. Not even Stark can't save you from being a complete dud. I hate you, you know what my father did to me? Huh? Now who's defending you loser," shouted Flash with venom in his voice.
At that moment, a shout echoed through the air. "Get away from him or I swear to God I'll shoot!". Happy with a Beretta in the air. Oh God.
Peter looked up and saw Happy Hogan, Tony Stark's loyal bodyguard, running toward them. Happy, a man of great physical presence stepped between Peter and Flash with a shove , protecting him from the blows.
"That's enough! I won't tolerate you hurting Peter. Stay away for your own good," Happy said in a firm, commanding voice.
Flash, surprised by Happy's intervention, backed up a step and then decided to retreat.
"How dare you pull out a gun and point it at me?"
"Oh, boy, try it one more time. I'm a goddamn bodyguard for a reason."
"My dad's gonna hear about this."
"Oh, don't worry, Tony will too."
"I'll sue you. Stupid"
"Do it and I swear I'll have over a hundred lawyers after you and your Thompson family."
He knew he didn't stand a chance against the powerful bodyguard and didn't want to face the consequences of his actions.
With Flash finally walking away, Happy approached Peter, who was still dazed and sore from the blows he had received. He supported him and reassured him.
"You're safe now, I'm here kid. Hey. Let me see your face. It's okay it's okay."
"Happy, sorry. I should have defended myself but..."
" It's okay, I'm here." Happy picked him up and put him in the car as fast as he could. Peter's face was a bloody sight.
Peter, though physically and emotionally hurt, decided not to respond to Flash's provocations. He knew that letting himself get carried away in anger would only make things worse. Instead, he focused on Happy's comforting presence at his side.
Happy, noticing the impact of Flash's words on Peter, decided to intervene again. He approached Peter and whispered in his ear in a serene voice. "Don't let his words affect you, Peter. You are far stronger and more valuable than he can ever understand." Happy said as he adjusted the car mirror.
Peter nodded, trying to remain calm and remembering Happy's words. He was inwardly grateful to have someone like Happy by his side, someone who stood up for him and reminded him of his worth. Though at the moment it wasn't much.
"Come on, Peter. I'll take you home," Happy said as he helped Peter to his feet and led him to the car.
"Please don't tell Tony."
"Boy-"
"Please Happy."
"I'll take you to SickBay."
"It's okay, just...-"
"Let's go."
Happy drove the car to the Stark Tower medical bay, where he knew Peter would receive proper care and attention. Driving cautiously, he made sure Peter was as comfortable as possible during the drive.
Upon arrival, Bruce was already waiting in the medical bay. Bruce had been briefed by Happy on the situation and was ready to help Peter.
Bruce examined Peter's wounds and noted his sore face and the scratches on his body. With tenderness and concern, he approached Peter and said, "Don't worry, Peter. You're going to be fine. I'm going to take care of you and make sure you recover ASAP."
Peter nodded gratefully, confident in Bruce's medical skills. He knew he was in good hands and would soon be on the road to recovery.
During the healing process, Bruce treated Peter's wounds with care and precision. He would be fine for the night and thankfully, it would only be Pepper in the tower, because Tony had a meeting. Fortunately, it would be easier to keep it from her.
Meanwhile, in the medical bay waiting room, Happy and Bruce had a hushed conversation.
"I think it's best to keep this between us for now. Tony cares a lot about Peter, and he might react impulsively if he finds out," Happy suggested.
"Yeah, well, I heard about the inconvenience at school."
"That's what I mean, although I swear to God Doctor, I came within an inch of hitting him. I had to intimidate him with the gun."
"YOU DID WHAT?
"SHHH SHUSH! Hey I was taking the shit out of Peter...."
"Well, I don't know ...I'm a doctor, scientist, physicist, etc. I don't think about that. That's what the green guy thinks. Anyway let's keep it that way. "
Happy agreed and promised to keep the secret. They both understood that, at this point, the most important thing was to make sure Peter recovered both physically and emotionally.
After a long and exhausting day, Peter returned to his room at Stark Tower. He was trying to hide the marks from the beatings he had received from Flash at school, but his effort did not go unnoticed by Pepper Potts.
Pepper noticed the way Peter avoided looking directly at her and how he tried to cover his face sheepishly as they ate the pasta he had prepared. Alfredo, delicious. Feeling curious and concerned, she decided to drag her chair over to Peter's and ask him what was wrong.
"You seem to be hiding something, Pete. Is everything all right?" asked Pepper in a soft but concerned tone.
Peter, unable to hide his distress, let out a sigh and decided to confide in Pepper. He knew she was an understanding person who was always willing to listen. The opposite of Tony?
"Flash hit me at school today, and I had some cuts. I don't want Tony to worry or get mad, so I've been trying to hide it. I have enough to do with to suspension. The principal hates me and I just want to get this school term over with," Peter confessed with a mixture of sadness and embarrassment.
Pepper was surprised and concerned to hear Peter's confession. She understood that Peter didn't want to cause Tony any more concern, but she also knew it was important to approach the subject. After all and he suspected it would be the mom? I don't know. Something like that. That's what moms do?
"Peter, I know you want to protect Tony, but it's also important to take care of yourself," Pepper replied with a sympathetic expression.
Peter hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded, feeling relief that he didn't have to deal with everything alone.
Besides, Peter asked Pepper not to say anything to Tony. While Pepper understood his reasons, she also knew that sooner or later they would have to approach the subject with Tony to ensure Peter's safety.
"I understand, Peter, but eventually we will have to talk to Tony about this. He cares deeply about you and will want to make sure you are safe. We will work together to find the best way to approach this issue. I don't want you walking around and getting beat up by some rich kid. I'll talk to Happy," Pepper replied gently.
"That's okay, thanks Pepper. I'm sorry to tell you...it's just Tony. "
"I know, I know. Sometimes it's extreme."
Peter stood up and gave Pepper a hug. Oh yes, that loving warmth spread across Pepper's chest all the way to his heart.
Tony would have to be absent longer than planned, due to a meeting with a tour in Asia to create an agreement between starkpad and other brands with good discounts on cellular parts. After having confided in Pepper about the injuries he had received, Peter felt calmer and relieved. As the days passed, Peter and Pepper began to spend more time together, strengthening their relationship and creating a special bond.
One sunny afternoon, Peter and Pepper decided to take a walk in the gardens of Stark Tower. They enjoyed the cool breeze and talked about various topics, momentarily getting away from worries and responsibilities.
Peter admired Pepper's intelligence and bravery, and appreciated her kindness and unconditional support. He felt comfortable sharing his thoughts and experiences with her, knowing that he would always have a friend to confide in.
Pepper also noticed Peter's courage and determination, as well as his ability to face challenges with bravery. She admired his optimistic spirit and his desire to do good in the world, despite the hardships he had faced.
As they walked through the gardens, Pepper and Peter came upon an area where there were vibrantly colored flowers and exquisite scents. They stopped to appreciate the beauty and Peter couldn't help but smile.
"I think life has beautiful moments like these, which remind us that there are good things in the world, even in the midst of the challenges and beatings of out-of-control children," Peter commented with a thoughtful look on his face as he laughed .
Pepper nodded, sharing his laughter and perspective. "Those moments of beauty and hope are what inspire us to keep going and fighting for what we believe in. I'm glad we can share this moment together, Peter."
The walk continued as Peter and Pepper talked about their interests, dreams and goals. Peter was inspired by Pepper's success in business and how he had managed to become an influential and respected figure.
Pepper, in turn, admired Peter's bravery and resourcefulness as Spider-Man, and encouraged him to continue to pursue his passions and use his skills to do good.
Time passed quickly as Peter and Pepper enjoyed each other's company. As the sun began to set, they returned to Stark Tower, feeling revitalized and invigorated by their time together.
Peter realized that Pepper had become an important figure in his life, someone he could turn to for advice and support. He valued their friendship and looked forward to more shared moments in the future.
As they said goodbye, Peter thanked Pepper for her company and for being there for him. Pepper smiled warmly and assured him that she would always be there for him, ready to offer her support and friendship at any time. With a heart full of gratitude, Peter retreated to his room to play with Ned, feeling lucky to have someone like Pepper in his life. He knew that no matter what challenges he faced, he would always have someone to confide in and share special moments with.
Fortunately, he would also be able to share with the team and his friends from Wakanda, who were arriving that night and he could play with Tchalla and the others.