The Web Heads

Ned put down his pencil and grinned. The essay was complete. The Web Heads each wrote five hundred words, but they decided to write their own parts collectively as a group so that it would form one big essay to be read all together. It was difficult when Coach Murch stopped in to checked on them during lunch, but he never stayed for too long making it possible to complete the task. Finally their assignment was complete, and the group was proud they got to say what they felt needed to be said. 

Ned stapled the individual sheets together and smoothed it out over his desk.

At last, the clock struck 3:30 and detention was over. It might have been a relief that they didn’t have to sit in a classroom any longer, but they felt no relief knowing that they had to go home. 

Peter was more anxious than ever to go home this time. Opening up to his friends about Beck was one thing, but going home and telling May was a whole different level of fear and embarrassment. He really wasn’t sure who’s side she would take. She might believe him... but she might think he was lying because he didn’t want her to date in the first place. 

It was too terrifying to think about, and Peter would have chickened out if it wasn’t for friends reminding him that they were there for him. 

Still, his friends could only do so much. Deep down, Peter knew this was an issue he needed to face alone. That’s what he told Ned when Ned offered to talk to May for him. 

Thanks dude, but I really need to tell her myself. I still got your back when it comes to talking to your parents though. 

Thanks. I’m going to need your Peter charm to warm my parents hearts. 

Despite wanting to tell May alone, his chest was tightening with fear as he walked into the elevator. He could feel the way his stomach was twisting, making his lunch rise in the back of his throat. Peter swallowed dryly. It helped to know that MJ was right next door though, waiting for a sign to come in and help. 

That was the plan anyways. If Beck somehow managed to get to Peter before he could tell May, then MJ would see the curtains close and leap into action by coming over to his apartment and asking to see Peter. It seemed safe, foolproof, but Peter was weary. If there was one thing Beck was perfect at, it was manipulating people. 

As he stood outside his apartment door, Peter felt the same hesitation wash over him that he’s felt ever since May started dating that monster. He stared angrily at the door, projecting all the hate towards it, as if the door was the reason he was afraid to enter his own home these days. 

Well not anymore, door. He was done being afraid. This was the last time he was ever going to stand outside for five whole minutes, feeling his entire body tremble from head to toe. He was going to get his life back or die trying. Too bad his body wasn’t cooperating with his mind. 

Come on feet, move. Walk inside. Go!

No matter how loudly his thoughts commanded his feet, they wouldn’t budge. He felt frustrated tears threaten to form in the back of his eyes, but he pushed them away. 

“You got this, Peter. You got this Spider-Man.” He whispered to himself for a few seconds before finally twisting the door knob. 

“May?” He asked quietly, pushing the door open further. He didn’t see her on the sofa in the living room. Frowning, Peter closed the door behind him and wondered further into his apartment. He froze in the empty doorframe of the kitchen when he caught sight of Beck standing over a pot of boiling chicken. 

Peter started at him like a deer caught in the headlights, fully expecting the room to burst into flames, imagining Beck to split in half and reveal Satan himself under the surface. 

“Where’s, where’s May?” Peter asked in a small voice, still shell-shocked. For some reason he hadn’t even considered the possibility of Beck being in the apartment today instead of May. He really should have guessed it was a possibility considering the man found ways to get Peter alone every few days. But still, his mind wasn’t thinking about May being absent from the apartment. This added a whole new sensation of terror.

“She’s not here right now.” The older man said, smirking as if he knew something Peter didn’t. 

“W-What- what are you say - where is she?” Peter’s eyes narrowed.

“Pay attention.” Beck said suddenly, tapping the boy lightly on his arm. Peter gasped, flinching back at the contact, receiving the worst look he’d ever seen on Beck’s face in return. “She’s borrowing something from the apartment next door. My suggestion of course. I figured we could have some alone time to talk about why you earned yourself another detention.”

Peter braced himself against the blue counter behind him in a white-knuckled grip. He swallowed hard. “No.”

“Excuse me, what?” 

Peter cautiously casted his gaze towards the floor. “I said no.” 

Beck took a step towards him and chuckled dangerously low. 

“Ah, It sounded like you just said no, but I know you didn’t say that, right?” He grabbed the collar of Peter’s white shirt with both hands. “Because if you did that, then I would have to tell the world who Spider-Man is... and we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

Peter felt his heart skid to a halt, and he wordlessly shook his head.

“That’s what I thought. Now why don’t you be a good boy and go into your bedroom for me.”

“No.” Peter spat, shoving Beck’s hands away from his shirt collar, hard. The man stumbled backwards until he rammed into the kitchen sink, bumping his hip painfully off the appliance. 

“Why you little...” Beck backhanded him harshly without warning. Peter tasted blood, and his chest started to heave as his body began to panic. Without much thought other than ‘I need to get him away from me,’ Peter shot a web at the cabinet above Beck‘s head and opened it, allowing several pots and pans to fall on top of him. 

“What the hell is going on!?” Peter’s aunt’s voice cut through the roaring in the teen’s ears. 

Peter turned, tears suddenly filled the boy’s chocolate brown eyes. “May.” He chocked out. 

Beck shook his head and got to his feet quickly. “Your kid just assaulted me!”

“Because he slapped me, May!” A few stray tears made their way down his face. “Please make him leave.”

“You slapped my kid?” 

“He shoved me first, right into the sink.”

“Peter? Did you shove him?”

“I - he -“ Peter was struggling. Words were not coming to his brain fast enough. 

“Yes he did.” Beck said, folding his arms. “The kid needs to be disciplined.”

A sob escaped Peter’s lips as he backed away further into May’s arms. 

“All right, Quentin, that’s enough. You need to go.”

“What? But May, he attacked me! He should be punished not me.”

“Let me talk to him. Then you can come back.” May said, smoothing her fingers through Peter’s hair with one hand. But Peter wasn’t happy with that.

“NO!” He screamed. “You can’t. You stay away from me and my aunt.”

“Peter!” May sounded alarmed. 

“See, what did I tell you? Kid needs a beating.”

“I do not! Get out.” 

“Quentin, what the hell?” May yelled, then she turned to Peter. “Hey just calm down, honey.”

“He’s not leaving, May. Make him leave!”

“Should you do it, or should I?” Beck asked moving forward, and picking up a wooden spoon from the kitchen drawer.

“I’ll knock you out! Don’t. touch. me!” Peter screamed. 

A hand connected against his arm, leaving behind a red splotch.

Instant regret washed over her features. “Peter, you can’t threaten to knock someone out like that. I’m sorry. But that’s not like you, and I don’t want you to become violent. Let’s just calm down and Quentin will leave and we can talk.”

His lower lip was trembling even more. “You hit me.” He repeated, ducking away from her outstretched hands. Sure she only smacked his arm, and sure it didn’t hurt one single bit, but it still hurt to know she was choosing Beck over him.

“Peter!” May shouted, but the kid was already throwing open the apartment door and dashing outside. 

“Damn,” Beck cursed, moving to go after him, but May grabbed his arm.

“No,” she said vehemently. “GET out of my house and don’t EVER come back.”

“What?” Beck blinked bewildered. “I don’t understand. I thought we were on the same page.”

“You don’t get to hit my kid. I don’t care what he did.” 

“Again, he attacked me.”

“Then he must have had a good reason.” May growled, the entire situation starting to make more sense now that she had time to think it over. In the beginning she was caught completely off guard, unsure of what was happening. But she wished she would have said this sooner, before Peter ran off. 

“I should have known you would take his side seeing as how your relationship with him is extremely unhealthy.” Beck muttered.

“My relationship with Peter is perfectly fine.” May shouted, growing defensive. “And I’m sick of you saying that I should give him space. In fact, I’m sick of you telling me how to parent him at all.”

“Excuse me for trying to help you. But you know what, it’s fine. See if I care. You’ll want me back in a few days when everything in your life starts falling apart again without my paycheck to help out around here.” 

“Just leave!” May shouted, reaching for her cell phone.

“Oh don’t call the police, I’m leaving, I’m leaving.” Beck snapped, “But like I said, you’ll be begging for me to come back.”

May slammed the door on his face and immediately dialed Peter’s cell phone number. She heard ringing from his bedroom and followed to noise to where she found his cell phone sitting on his bed. May sighed and sat on her nephew’s bed, feeling immense guilt weigh her down. She was looking at his phone when something strange caught her eye. A tiny dark purple stain was peaking out from under his comforter. She pulled his bedsheets down further to reveal more splotches of dried blood. 

May broke into a cold sweat. She stood, pacing, while every negative thought imaginable raced through her mind. 

He didn’t want to be alone.

He flinched at every touch.

He was grimacing as he moved.

May’s fingers curled into a fist. Fire in the form of water stung her brown eyes, and she screamed. Oh dear God, how could she not have seen the signs. With trembling hands, she whipped out her cell phone and called Ned’s parents, praying that Peter was with them. 

                   ____________________

Peter looked down at the hot chocolate in front of him, his fingers tracing along the edge of the mug that said MIT.

Mr. Stark didn’t say anything when he arrived at the compound, knowing that Peter needed some space to process his feelings, and Peter was extremely grateful his hero didn’t question why he was misty-eyed. 

Instead, Mr. Stark invited him inside, gave him a blanket and plopped him on the large fancy white sofa in front of a huge flat screen TV. Peter was instructed to pick out of movie while Mr. Stark made the hot chocolate but Peter couldn’t bring himself to do that. 

Mr. Stark had joined him on the couch a few moments later, and just stared at him, as if trying to figure out what he should say next. It was highly uncomfortable for both parties.

“Thank you for the drink.” Peter whispered meekly. He heard on the news that Mr. Stark was moving the Avengers compound upstate but he didn’t want to believe it. When Happy told him, he tried to ignore it. But being there, and seeing the moving boxes, it made it impossible to ignore. Soon Mr. Stark was going to leave him too. 

“Of course. Nothing says comfort like hot chocolate in my dirty morning coffee cup.”

Peter frowned, and glanced sideways at his mug.

“I’m just kidding.” Mr. Stark said, “that’s Happy’s Coffee cup not mine.”

Sighing, Peter set it down on the side table and snuggled further under the blanket he was given.

“So... as much as I love surprises, are you going to tell me what you’re doing here? Or are we just not going to talk about it?”

“Uh - well - Happy said I could come see you.”

Tony nodded and took a sip of his cocoa. “Yeah, yeah, he also told me you were doing well being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. I just wanted to say, great job, kid. My Dad never really gave me a lot of support so I wanted to break the cycle of shame and pay you a compliment.”

“Wow. Uh. Thanks Mr. Stark, sir. Uh. I’m kinda here because I also um... I needed to get away for a bit.” Peter looked at the blanket, picking at pieces of fuzz. “Sorry if I’m bothering you.”

Tony frowned, “What’s this about needing to get away? Did you and your aunt have a fight.”

“Kinda. She’s with this guy and he’s been really horrible to me, and I think she’s taking his side. But then again, she was trying to meet us both in the middle so maybe I should have listened more and I probably should go home because I’m going to end up scaring her to death and -“

“Hold up. Did you just say this guy’s been horrible to you?”

“Uh, yeah, um...”

“F.R.I.D.A.Y. get me the address of - Peter, what’s his name?”

“No, Mr. Stark, that’s really not necessary.”

“Did he hurt you?” Mr. Stark’s voice was dry, but Peter learned a long time ago that his words might be limited but his eyes told a whole different story. 

“Well kinda but -“

“Then give me his name.” 

“Mr. Stark -“

“No, that’s my name. I want his name.”

Peter paused, thinking it over. He had wanted this to happen for so long, but now that he had a chance to get rid of Beck he wasn’t sure if he should take it. What if Mr. Stark accidentally makes it worse for him? And besides he does want May to be Happy. If she really liked this jerk, Peter could learn to deal with... a shudder slid up his spine. No he couldn’t. He couldn’t do this any longer. 

“Quentin Beck. But please, Mr. Stark! Don’t do anything that will make him mad. If he’s mad he might...” Peter gulped, refusing to finish his sentence, mind going to horrific places that Beck opened him up to.

“Pete. I promise you, I’m not going to let that guy hurt you ever again.”  

Oh God did those words sound so so good. Peter nodded stiffly, trying to keep his tears at bay. He wasn’t about to cry in front of his hero. 

Hero.

That was definitely what Mr. Stark was, even if the man sometimes doubted it himself. It took everything Peter had not to throw himself at Tony’s feet and thank him from the bottom of his heart. Instead he squeezed the blanket closer to his body.

“Kid, are you okay?”

Peter laughed a watery laugh, “You promise you’ll take care of it?”

Tony nodded. “I’ll make him disappear. I have ways. I am Tony Stark.” It was a slight joke, but he was serious with sending Beck somewhere far away, Peter could tell. 

“Then yeah, I’m going to be okay, Mr. Stark.” Which he knew was a stretch. It was going to take a long time before Peter got over Beck. He might need therapy, though he can’t really afford it. Maybe his friends will be like his therapists, or maybe Mr. Stark could help him pay to get professional help. Not that Peter would ask, but he was pretty sure Mr. Stark would offer at some point. The man alway seemed to know when Peter needed something.

No matter what, though, Peter would heal with the help of his amazing friends and family. He was lucky in the sense of having countless people support him and love him so deeply. 

“Mr. Stark. He threatened to tell the world I’m Spider Man.” Peter whispered, as the man was already searching things on his holographic phone. 

“Don’t worry kid. Where I’m sending him, he won’t have anyone to tell.”

“What are you gonna do, Mr. Stark?”

“Just leave that to me.” 

Peter leaned sideways and wrapped his arms around Mr. Stark’s torso. He didn’t want to make the man uncomfortable, he knew Mr. Stark wasn’t cool with hugs, but he was so thankful, he needed to express his gratitude in some way. Miraculously, Mr. Stark returned the hug for a brief second before pulling Peter away.

“Okay, underoos. Now I need you to call your aunt and tell her where you are. You two have a lot of talking to do. But I promise you, once she knows what’s been happening, she will leave his sorry ass so fast. Trust me. Her main priority and concern will always be you. Not some stupid boyfriend.”

“But he makes May happy.

“She won’t be happy when she finds out what he’s been hurting you. You just have to tell her everything. And when you’re done, give the phone to me. I’ve got stuff I want to discuss with her too.”

Peter wasn’t about to argue. He wanted to talk to May so badly ever since this morning. He needed to tell her everything.

                   ______________________

Peter doesn’t remember all the details after that, but he was crying and May was crying a lot. They stayed on the phone talking for hours, and Mr. Stark had called some of his Avenger friends to go with him on a quick mission to some guy’s house. 

“We’re just going to explain to him politely, after we break his nose, that he will never go near the Parker’s again, and that he can expect a plane ticket in the mail to drop him off at a remote island any time this week. He will be wise to take it, because if he doesn’t, we’re going to pay him another visit. And if the words Spider-Man and Peter leave his mouth, then he will be seeing us every day for the next year.”

“Damn Tony, what did this guy do?”

“He messed with the kid.” Tony said, venom dripping from his words. 

“Bad move.”

May arrived at the Tower an hour later, when Peter was alone watching a movie he finally picked out. 

She let out an immediate cry when she saw him, and rushed over to squeeze him in an bone crushing hug. 

“I’m so sorry.” She sobbed, rocking him in her arms. 

“May, are you all right?” Peter asked, hating when his aunt cried. 

She smoothed her fingers through his hair, “I’m supposed to be asking you that, not the other way around, tough guy.”

Peter grinned at the nickname. He felt so much better after he heard May already sent Beck home, and when he finally told her what Beck was doing at night, he felt the weigh of worlds being lifted from his shoulders. But he didn’t want to burden May with the news. 

“I’m sorry -“

May placed a finger on his lips. “Don’t you ever apologize for that, okay? Never apologize for what happened because none of it is your fault.”

Regardless of whatever has changed between them, or whatever secrets Peter has kept from her from the past month, at least he was still her Peter. He still liked his hair being petted, still liked talking about Sci-fi movies until he was blue in the face. She was so beyond grateful that it was just him and her again. 

“It’s just you and me, now.” She whispered, still hugging him, and never going to let go. “You can tell me anything. I promise from now on I will listen to you without any hesitation.”

Peter nodded against her shoulder. “Just you and me.” The words coax out the barest hint of a smile from the two of them, and for the first time in a long time, Peter felt safe.