Chapter 10
*knock*
*knock*
*knock*
"Oh hello, honey! Tannie, right?" May's fruity voice greets me grabbing my arm and dragging me inside "come on, it's freezing outside"
I softly thank her while eyeing the noiseless apartment. Only the dim light of a floor lamp illuminates the living room. I hear how she closes the door and she appears walking to the couch and grabbing a book
"I'm sorry it's a little late but it won't be long, I promise"
She slumps on the couch and smiles at me "Oh, please. Don't worry Tannie, the tough guy is right in his room... oh and uh, do you know anything about a fight?"
Shiiiiiit. How does she know?
I stop in my track and turn to her "a fight? uh, what fight?"
She brushes a strand of hair behind her ear "Peter got into a fight with a guy named Steve just after arriving from the trip... you happen to know him?"
I slowly shake my head "Uh-uh... I-I..."
"Yeah, don't worry, you go..." she smiles and opens her book to read
I swallow and spin to the small hall with three doors. I step in front of the door and take the handle. With a deep breath, I try to open the door as quiet as possible. I peek my head and notice Peter sitting on his bed rubbing his right eye, lightly wincing and wrinkling his nose.
"Who hit you?" I ask
Peter squeals throwing his arms in the air. The ice wrapped in the towel flies in front of my feet
"Geez! you scared me!!" he swings his legs to stand up and I lower myself to reach for the ice and towel "Wha-what are you uh doing here? are you ok?"
"I am..." I hand him the towel and block of ice
"Thanks... uh a guy from Brooklyn" He spins perching himself in the edge of his bed
I hum and close the door behind me "how was the trip to Germany?"
"oh! it was great! I saw a lot of things... yeah"
I turn around to look at him, his red sweatshirt is a little damp for the droplets of molten ice.
"We need to talk, Peter... or should I say Spider-Man?"
His Adam apple throbs "Wha...what? What are you talking about?" his posture stiffing as I walk in front of him
"You can't escape from me so let's talk" I sit beside him and his eyes following my moves
"What part did you like the most? When you took Steve's shield or when that giant man appeared?"
He scratches the back of his neck and fully turns his body to me "Tannie... OH GOD, I KNEW YOU WERE THERE!" he yells in a whisper "That guy with the wings was talking to you and then, and then I was acting cool. You know? And oh, your dad was sooooo freaked out about something, first I thought it was for his friend in the other armor but something else was bothering him... but it was you! I felt it!"
I snort hearing his fast speed and nod "Yeah, I sneaked in... all the way to Germany. I saw you fighting and webbing... you really need to tell me how you do that"
Peter brings his hands to his head in disbelief, his chest heavily rising and falling.
"It was so crazy! I stole his shield haha!!" In a flash, he jumps from the bed and starts pacing side to side "I was free to fight everyone, I mean, the ones in Cap's Team... do you, uh call him Steve or Cap? And then, your dad was like 'here a minor upgrade' with amazing eyes and it's so comfortable"
I rock myself in his bed "You had fun, huh? Glad my dad listened to me about that first onesie you were wearing" I laugh throwing my face to hs pillows
Peter slaps his hands in his legs "What?! you, you were the one telling him I was wearing a onesie? It's a bodysuit..."
I laugh as hard as I can, Peter following seconds later and the muscles of my stomach hurting and even a tear threatening to leave my eye. Peter stops and runs to his desk snatching his laptop.
"Oh and I filmed everything! Happy told me I couldn't show it to anyone but... you are Iron Man's daughter so technically I can show you, right?"
I sit upright and move aside for him to sit beside me "Happy was there?... you know Happy?"
"Yeah, great man, he was there with me all the way too" he opens his computer "uh... here it is, I named it 'WWC 2016' " He gently places the computer in my lap and pushes play
Letters appear showing "A film by Peter Parker"
"New York. Queens. It's a rough borough, but hey, it's home" Peter speaks in a fake gravelly voice
I then see Happy driving him to my dad's jet, I laugh at Peter's innocence and Happy's frustration. Peter pauses the video and I turn to look at him.
"It was so cool Tannie, maybe not the part of being in a plane, but the next part it's funny... see"
A magnificent closeup of Happy snoring as there's no tomorrow
"This is art" I whisper to Peter who nos in agreement
Peter speaks about not knowing what he's doing there, probably at that time I was sneaking into the white van with Clint, Wanda, and Scott. Peter then says "Something about Captain America going crazy". I sigh and continue to watch it. I laugh when Happy says "we're not roommates"
I snort pointing to the screen "see! that's definitely a onesie!"
Peter rolls his eyes nudging me. I laugh and continue to watch the homemade video. The metal-ish suitcase with his new suit. Peter jumping up and down with excitement. I see the other perspective of the airport fight. Me being meters away.
"I was watching that at the roof of the parking lot" I mutter, Peter nods not taking his eyes from the screen
The fighting thing ends and then it changes to my dad, Peter pauses the video again.
"All this part with your dad was this morning when I landed" Peter explains while resuming the video
I watch closely the last part and laugh when my dad says a very inappropriate thing. It abruptly ends and Peter closes his computer pushing it aside.
"Mad editing skills, Parker"
He smiles "That was the best trip ever! seriously Tannie, and your dad let me keep the suit!" He whispers gripping my arm excited as hell
"So, you're an Avenger" I smile at him
Peter Parker... An Avenger
He sighs rubbing his brow "I... think so... yeah"
"I'm so happy for you. You seem to know what you're doing" I stand up and spin to him "your secret is obviously safe with me ok?"
"Thanks... thank you, Tannie" he stands up awkwardly swinging his arms
I point at his eye "I'm glad you're not badly injured"
He brings his hands to his pockets "Wait, you're fine, right? I heard black Widow saying you had some kind of accident?"
I tilt my head "Yeah, let's just say that a portal opened and it sucked me in, can't remember what happened there and then I got sucked out and today I woke up feeling as nothing happened"
"Well, I'm also glad you're not badly injured" a smile creeps in his face, small dimples appearing
I feel a small wave of heat forming in my cheeks "Do you mind if I just see your suit? pleaseeeee?" I singsong and Peter nods running to his bed and retrieving the suitcase
I watch how he unlocks it and the suit is neatly folded inside. My eyes widen and my fingers trace the soft yet elastic blue with red fabric
"This is so cool... it doesn't feel like polyester... this is amazing" I shake my head waking up from the admiration and stand up again "I should go now... my mom thinks I'm the hospital"
Peter snorts closing the suitcase and walks to his door as if he's blocking the way "aren't you a little sneaky?"
I huff walking in front of him "Oh... look who's talking, Spider-Man"
I lean forward, my hand on Peter's side aiming to grab the door handle but Peter mistakes the gesture and brings his arms to my back giving me a hug.
"I'm just uh... trying to open the door" I awkwardly whisper and Peter jumps pulling apart. His brows drawn together, his forehead wrinkling
"Weird... is that like a family trait or something?" he whispers back
I snort and pat his shoulder "See you tomorrow, Peter..." I leave him in his room and walk to the living room where May is still reading "Thanks again, May... good night!"
"Bye honey, take care!"
I close the door behind me and lean against it... What now?
Maybe you should run to your house before someone finds out you left again.
-----------
I wake up at the hospital bed. The shaft of light enters the room, I lazily walk to my actual room and prepare myself for another week of school. The last stop is the kitchen where I grab a bowl of cereal. Then my phone rings. A message notification.
I smile seeing the small but meaningful interaction. T then walk to the entrance where Happy is sitting in the driver's seat eating a sandwich
"Hey! how was your weekend?"
"Eh, I have better weekends... I was working all the time"
Yeah, you were with Peter in Germany.
He jerks his head "What did you do apart of sneaking into a car, a plane, and a van?"
I chuckle "My dad told you?"
"Oh yeah... he told me everything, what is it then? 3 years grounded? five?"
I flash him a small smirk "None... at least until now... he's too busy fighting his best friend and my mom is more worried about my wellbeing" I say hopping inside the car
Throughout the drive, Happy told me my dad was now in Siberia and told me that he has his eyes on me if I plan to go there but I assured him that I had enough of going to foreign countries. He drops me off in the same spot and I walk to the school. The sight of people meeting again after a normal weekend is too weird to see. My weekend wasn't normal at all. Then I see Harley's tall figure waiting for me in the middle of the hall.
"Stranger Stark, missed you on Friday. Are you ok?"
I feel like a million bucks. I went to Germany, saw my family fighting and splitting. Then a portal sucked me inside an-
"Yeah, thanks. I got this massive stomachache, but I'm fine now" I explain and we walks to our respective lockers
A loud crash against the metal door beside me makes me jump and see a pair of sneakers.
"Helloooo" Peter slowly waves at me, a thin line of a smile in his face
"Hey, Peter" My eyes stop in his barely noticeable bruise around his eye "That was fast..."
Peter understands what I'm talking about and he steps closer to my face "It's a Spider thing actually... cells evolve faster
I open my mouth agape and bring my index finger to his skin "Whoa... amazing"
"Hey man!" Harley steps beside me patting Peter's arm
Peter jerks his head and I bring my finger down "'sup, Harrold!"
"Harley" he quickly corrects
Peter nods and looks at me "See you where the acute angles reside"
I snort and see him walking backwards and spinning to the classroom
"What's his deal?" Harley asks raising an eyebrow
"Oh, just geometry stuff" I close my locker and turn to Harley "See you later ok?"
"Yeah sure, go and study angles...?" He awkwardly winces and walks away
As soon as I enter the classroom I wave at Ned who offers me a genuine smile. Peter is seating behind me and broadly smiles when he notices me. He points to the seat next to him and I slide there throwing my backpack to the floor.
"Hey..." he mutters to me
"Hey..." I whisper back
"So umm, I was thinking that maybe you can si-"
But before he can continue the teacher raises his voice and we start working. At the end of the class, I lower myself to grab my pen but my arm accidentally pushes my notebooks to the ground. But Peter in a quick response, effortlessly stretches his arm to catch them. I softly thank him and finally wait outside the classroom while Peter says bye to Ned.
"Ready! Let's go" he says rocking his arms back and forth
"I was thinking that you saved me from that cane accident" I utter
Peter turns to look at me, his cheeks turning red "oh yeah! I did, didn't know it was you until I saw your backpack hehe"
"Well, I already thanked Spider-Man but... Thank you, Peter" I stare at his brown orbs
"uh, that's... no big deal, Tannie" he nervously rubs his neck "and I should be thanking you too"
"Why?"
"The pep talk you gave me there... about choices... it gave me a lot of strength to accept what came later...you know..."
I playfully nudge his arm, a breathily laugh escaping his lips "told you I was good at advising"
"Want to sit next to me in Ethics?"
I stop reaching the door "uhum, love to"
In sync, we slump in our seats. Half paying attention to the teacher and half whispering about nonsense things. Without even asking again, we sit together next class. Minutes before the bell buzzes announcing recess is starting, Peter asks me if I want to join him and Ned. I nod containing the warm feeling of happiness. Yes, countless people have asked to join them in the cafeteria and I kindly accepted the offers but the conversations always begin and end with the same questions and after some weeks of jumping from tables to tables, it got monotonous so that's when I decided to go to the benches by my own and have some peace and quietness.
"Ready to mock the athletes?" Harley's voice breaks me from my thoughts
"Oh, 'bout that, I need to catch up with homework and some exercises of last Friday, Warren told me that I missed an important lesson"
Harley quickly nods "oh yeah! no worries... I know how much physics means to you" His eyes travel behind me and he clears his throat "See you at Robotics"
I nod already turning to leave but he steps closer and kisses my cheek and strides away. Blushing seems it's my talent now.
"Ready, Stark?" Peter asks reading an article in a science magazine
"Yep, let's go"
It's been a long time since I don't step into the cafeteria. Multiple pairs of eyes dart to me as I walk to the end of the big room. I slide in the chair across Ned while Peter walks around and slumps with a sigh beside his best friend. Ned offers a tray to Peter who offers it to me. We begin eating while Ned reads some jokes he found on the web making me and Peter almost spill our drinks. Then someone pokes my shoulder and notice Liz Toomes along with Betty.
"Hi girls" Betty unhurriedly waves at me
"You missed algebra the other day and I just wanted to offer you my notes, we kinda did a lot..." she smiles, god she's kind "Right Peter?"
I turn to stare at him who is choking in his own tongue "yeah, yeah... a lot of notes and numbers..." he stutters rapidly blinking at me
I snort and spin to her "Thanks, Liz, you're so kind" she hands me her notebook and watches Peter hypnotized face
"I like your shirt" she adds and sways away where her friends are
"Yeah... it's from the flea market...-" Peter mutters watching her leave
"Dude... you need to perfect your game, you're lame," Ned says eating a sandwich
"I'm so not!" Peter whispers and looks at me "What do you think?"
I stare at him, suppressing my sarcastic comments, god, his game is lame... "I should say that... I really like the school lunch" I dig into the bowl of grapes and Peter huffs
Do you know what was lame? Music and art, I love art in general but honestly, Midtown is better at science. When art is over I see Peter waiting for me at the door.
"I need to go now..." he whispers pointing at the end of the hall
"No clubs for you... you are... going to work at the Stark internship right?" I place my words carefully for him to understand
He pauses a moment and then nods knowing what I'm talking about "yeah! yeah! a lot of work!"
"Swing safely" I wink and he giggles and spins to the doors
At Robotics I sit next to Harley who, weirdly is scooting closer to me and often placing his hand in my shoulder or arm. Not annoying but weird. We work on our project and I explain to him that my mom wants to have a girls' night so he understands he can't come to the new house today. We walk to the street, my eyes spotting the shiny black car but before I could stroll there, Harley rapidly kisses my cheek again and runs away.
I frown, he caught me off guard. When I get inside the car, Happy immediately takes off his glasses and turns in his seat to stare at me.
"Did he...? did he just kissed your cheek?"
I shrug flattering my lashes at him "Harley?"
"NOOOO, prince William! of course, Harley... did he?"
"Yeah, he did... it's called politeness or civility, I think" I reply and he huffs starting the engine
He drops me off and I enter immediately smelling something delicious being cooked, I go to the kitchen where my mom is cheerfully swaying her hips along with her humming. Oh god, it's been ages since the image of her not being completely and totally drawn to her office. We eat together while I narrate her about everything I did in my little adventure to Germany, earning millions of eye-rolling but she listened. After that, we move to the living room where I began doing homework whilst she starts devouring a new book.
An hour and a half later, we choose to watch 'While you were sleeping'. Our belly laughs fade when a loud boom echoes downstairs. We walk in front of the stairs and two figures appear. Happy helping my dad walk. Bruises and dried blood all over his face but the hurt in his eyes is far more noticeable. My mom gasps running downstairs and helping him. He's touching his chest in agony, more specifically, his arc reactor.
"What ugh... happened?" My mom wheezes while taking my dad's weight
"His arc reactor is shattered"