Chapter 12
Harley, Cooper, and Lila lingered outside of the closed door to the game room, desperately trying to seem casual as they strained to overhear what was happening on the other side of the door.
“Your brother is really hot.” Lila whispered. Harley rolled his eyes and Copper groaned.
“He’s dating Sky, they’re super serious.” Harley said.
“And he’s way too old for you Lila.” Cooper added. “Dad would blow a gasket.”
“First of all, three years is nothing, mom and dad are five years apart. And I know he’s dating, but people breakup all the time in high school, it’s not like they’re married.”
“Forget dad, I’d never let you date him. Didn’t you see what just happened with Uncle Steve?”
“Remember when dad talked to us about PTSD? He had a panic attack Cooper. He just needs someone who understands him.”
“He’s got that Lila. Skyler gets him more than anyone.” Harley reminded her.
“Peter doesn’t need to you to save him Lila. I’m serious, keep your distance from him. You can be his friend but that it.”
“You can’t tell me who I can and can’t like Cooper. Neither can dad.”
“Lila, you just don’t get it do you?” Cooper ran his hands over his face and through his hair. “Guys like Peter don’t get better. They don’t recover from what’s happened to them. He’s never going to be the type of guy you can take to prom or have over for family dinner.”
“Ok, well, I don’t think that’s fair. Peter is doing his best. And he can actually be pretty nice if he thinks no one is watching.” Harley interrupted.
Cooper turned to him, “Dude, whose side are you on? Do you really think he’s the kind of guy Lila should be going after?”
“Obviously not, but not because he’s dangerous or whatever it is that you are thinking. Peter’s too old for her and he’s got a girlfriend, that should be reason enough.”
Before Cooper could saying reply, the door swung open and Bucky, Peter, and Skyler stepped out.
“Peter’s fine now and we aren’t going to talk about.” Bucky announced. “Tony, is dinner ready?”
“Um, yeah. Everything’s on the table.” Tony’s eyes darted back and forth between Peter and Bucky, trying to figure out what happened in the game room.
“Then let’s eat.”
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To Peter’s surprise, Bucky was right. No one treated him like he was fragile or crazy. Steve clearly was doing his best to give Peter space, but when they made eye contact, he just offered a small, somewhat hesitant smile. Clint’s daughter Lila sat across from him, and she spent the entire night asking him questions. He did his best to give her the toned down answers, I already finished high school, I moved around a lot growing up, I came to New York before Tony, I’m still adjusting to living here. He didn’t lie, but it still felt dishonest and it left a strange feeling in Peter’s gut. Cooper glaring at Lila every time she asked a new question didn’t help either. She glared back at her brother just as hard and it was like they were having a silent conversation only the two of them could understand. Peter had been in foster homes and group housing with other kids, but they were never like siblings to him. Roommates, maybe. Responsibilities, usually. Friends, rarely. But never siblings. Peter looked over to Harley and Morgan. The relationship he had with them felt… different.
“How you doing babe?” Skyler whispered, pulling him away from his thoughts.
“I’m ok. Happy no one is being weird about what happened.”
Skyler bit her lip, “That really scared me Peter. I think, I think you should talk to Tony about getting some help.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I’m not. Just, think about it. For me.”
Peter sighed, “ok, for you.”
Skyler checked the time on her phone. “I should go. Dad’s gonna be home in an hour.”
Peter frowned at the mention of her father. “I’ll walk you home.”
“I’m a big girl Peter, I can get myself home.”
“If you don’t let me, I’m just going to follow up from ten feet away like a creep.”
“Fine, but you’re just walking me home. Not a step further. I don’t have the energy to handle dad if he sees you.”
“Just to your door. Scouts honor.” Peter winked, then announced to the table, “I’m gonna take Skyler home.”
“I can drive you two, it’s getting late, I don’t want you walking back alone in the dark.” Tony was already pushing his chair back to stand.
“You do realize that I feel more at home out on the streets than I do here. I’ve been walking around the city in the dead of night alone since I was eight. I don’t you of all people to try to protect me.” Peter scowled. The awkward silence that settled over the table was enough to almost make Peter regret his words. Almost.
“I’ll go with you.” All eyes swung to Harley.
“Like I just told Tony-“
Harley cut Peter off, “The streets are your home and gunshots are your lullabies.” Harley said in a bad Batman impression. “I know. But it’s a nice night and I want some fresh air. I’m not going to protect you, it’s the other way around.”
“The more the merrier, right Peter?” Skyler cocked an eyebrow at him, “After all, you’re just walking me to the door.”
“Fine, let’s just go.”
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The boys dropped Skyler off just in time. They were only halfway down the street when they saw her father come home.
“Come on, just keep walking.” Peter said without breaking his stride. Harley looked at Peter, and noticed that his fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were starting to go white.
“What’s the deal with her dad?”
“He’s jerk, like most dads.”
“Come on, there’s clearly something more to it than that.” Harley pushed.
“He’s done some really messed up stuff to Skyler. And has let other people do even worse. I’ve tried to help her, but it’s only ever made things worse. So now I just stay away from him.”
Harley glanced over his shoulder to look back at Skyler’s door. “Is she going to be safe tonight?”
Peter let out a heavy sigh. “I have asked myself that question every single night since I was fourteen.”
It wasn’t exactly an answer to Harley’s question, but he knew what Peter meant, I can only hope so.
“She’s really great with Morgan. And she clearly loves you. It’s nice that you two were able to find each other.”
“She is the single best thing that has ever happened to me.” Peter says seriously.
“You never told me how you met.” Harley probed.
“Eh, I think that’s a story for another night. I’ve already reached my limit of emotional vulnerability for the week.”
Harley laughed, “Alright man, go ahead, keep your secrets. I’ll just ask Sky the next time-“ Harley’s words were suddenly cut short as a boy jumped out of an ally, blocking their way. The flickering streetlight overhead reflected off of the blade he held in his hand.
“Give me your money!” He growled, deepening his voice in what Peter assumed was more of an effort to seem older than to conceal his identity.
Harley start to fumble with for his wallet, but Peter placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back, placing himself in between Peter and the mugger.
“Are you seriously trying to mug us with a knife?” Peter asked incredulously.
The boy frowned, “I could hurt you with this.”
“Ah yes, you’ve found my weakness. It’s small knives.” Peter said dryly. “Come on man, you’ll never get anywhere in life if you stick to the minor leagues. Gotta play big to win big.” When the boy just furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, Peter sighed and said, “Guns kiddo. I’m talking about guns.”
“But, that could kill someone.”
Peter wanted to bang his head against a brick wall. “Yeah, so could that knife if you use it right.”
“But I don’t want to kill anyone. I just want their money.”
“Ok, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you are clearly in the wrong profession. The moment you approached someone with a weapon, you need to be prepared to walk away with blood on your hands, even if you don’t want to hurt them. Mistakes happen, knives and guns escalate situations and drive people into fight or flight mode.”
“I need money though.” The kid said, and he sounded so discouraged that Peter actually wanted to give him some of the cash he had on him. But he had established a long time ago an anti handouts rule. There were too many homeless kids in New York. If Peter started giving money to every sob story he heard, he’d end up on the street himself. But what he could offer was a piece of advice.
“Stop mugging people. You’re crap at it and it’s dangerous. Get some cardboard and start begging. How old are you?”
He stood up straighter, “16.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
The kid’s shoulders dropped. “14.”
“Now you’re 12. The younger you are the more sympathy you’ll get. Come up with a backstory so heartbreaking it will make even you tear up. Look pathetic but try to stay as clean as you can, don’t get aggressive, and act grateful even if they just throw a nickel in your cup.”
“I’m no begger.”
“Lose the pride. Pride won’t keep you from going hungry. It won’t keep you warm or safe. Pride offers nothing kid. ” Peter side stepped the kid and Harley kept close behind him
When they turned the corner, Harley left out a breathy laugh. “I can’t believe you just talked your way out of being mugged. You weren’t kidding, you really can handle yourself.”
Peter shrugged. “It could have gone in the total opposite direction. We were lucky that he wasn’t that desperate. If he was a junkie who needed cash for his next fix, we both could have ended up dead. I wasn’t joking when I told him that knives can kill.” A flash of an emotion Harley couldn’t quite read passed over Peter face. Yet another story he doubted Peter would ever share.
“So how did you know that he wasn’t going to hurt us?”
“I didn’t. He was just as likely to try to stab us as he was to let us go.”
Harley thought about that for a moment. “So, when you put yourself in front of me, you were protecting me from him.”
“I was trying to stop you from doing something stupid that would get us both killed.”
“No, no, you were worried about me! You were keeping me safe.” Harley’s face split into a wide smile. “Because no matter how tough you act, you care about me.”
“Shut up.” Peter rolled his eyes.
“Wow, you are just a big softie aren’t you?” He teased.
“I’m starting to regret stopping him from mugging you.” Peter muttered, but Harley just laughed even harder.