Raccommodage

Peter felt the air escape him and the world around him darken as his aunt breathed her last. Aunt May had just died. She looked peaceful and Peter had no doubt she was going to go to heaven, but she'd left him behind. To suffer on earth, all alone. Fuck his life. Peter had visited later than usual, so he wasn't surprised to find his aunt asleep. She looked so calm, so happy, so asleep, like she was actually sleeping rather than faking it to make him feel less worried. So of course he couldn't wake her up. Her breathing was steady and her heart was still beating so he thought everything would be fine. He thought. 

Peter cried. He cried until he no longer had any tears and even then he continued to sob dryly. The doctors and nurses ushered Peter out of the room and into the hallway to wait. He sat down, all alone, and cried into his lap. 

"Do you...Do you have anyone or anywhere else?" A nurse asked sadly. Ever since May was hospitalised the LandLord helped take care of Peter, but the rent was almost due and Peter was too young to work. He knew he couldn't keep leeching off of the landlord he just...had nowhere else to go. He sniffled and shook his head. The nurse sighed and thought deeply to himself.

"Are you sure?" He confirmed. Peter fully processed the question that time and nodded.

"M-maybe....I-I don't know."

"Well...I think it'll be best to call them." The nurse suggested quietly. Peter nodded and looked on as the nurse left.

He looked at his phone and flew through his contacts. Ned? No. M.J.? No. Happy? No. Tony? Uh....no. Maybe...maybe Riley? Yeah. He stared down at the number, his finger hovering hesitantly above it. He pressed it and waited anxiously for an answer.

"Hello?"

Compound

Riley's phone rang in her pocket, interrupting her meal of double fudge chocolate. She stared at her phone, eyebrow raised in confusion. 'Da hell is Peter calling me so late for? On a Sunday night for Christ's sake.' It was a Sunday. Meaning the next day was Monday. Meaning school. She understood she wasn't one to judge, she was eating ice-cream and watching Netflix, but Peter, Peter had an Aunt on his tail. Tony was strict and Steve was a lot like a mom, but they were busy and couldn't always chase after her. May though, she was a force to be reckoned with. So much so she-oh shit. Riley went to her contacts list and redialed the number.

"Holo?" There was silence on the other end with heavy breathing and then a barely audible 'hello'. Riley could've sworn she heard Peter's voice break, but didn't bring it up.

"What's...What's up?" She asked warily.

"You in the mood for a sleepover?" Peter asked, voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.

"It's late Pete. Real late."

"I know...."

"What happened?" Silence.  A very long silence.

"Nothing.....I just-I just don't wanna go home.."

"Peter..Wh-"

"Please.." Peter begged. Riley sighed, but nodded her head. She cleared her throat awkwardly when she realised she was talking to him on the phone. He couldn't see her nod.

"I'll tell Tony."

"Thank you. Thank you so much." Peter sobbed softly.

"Yeah no-no problem."

Riley greeted Peter and pulled him inside.

"What's up?" Riley asked cheerfully. Probably too cheerful for Peter, judging by his face.

"It's been a very long month." Peter sighed.

"Same.....we have a new household member. Well members."

"Ohh? Who?"

"You'll never believe who it is."

"Try me." Peter challenged softly.

"Loki...and his kids....!"

"Oh?...that's....cool I guess..."

"Uh....yeah..." Riley cleared her throat, the previous conversation being gobbled up by an awkward silence. 

"So uh...what happened?" She asked quietly, playing with her fingers nervously as she entered her room and sat on the bed, waiting for Peter to sit next to her. 

"What do you mean?" Peter asked, distractedly putting his backpack down and putting his phone to charge before sitting down next to Riley.

"Peter. You know what I mean."

"I just-I missed you."

"You wound me Petey. I've been around the God of Mischief long enough to know when someone is lying."

"You can tell when Loki lies?" Peter asked, attempting to change the subject.

"Well no...but he told me some tricks to tell when someone else is lying-That's besides the point!"

"Well I did miss you...."

"Mhm. But?"

"What do you mean?"

"Pete, if you really missed me you would've replied to my texts or-or answered my calls."

"S-sorry I uh...I've been....busy."

"With what?" Silence. She turned to lock eyes with Peter and took his hands within her own.

"You can tell me anything..."

"J-Just between you and me...?"

"Pete-"

"Promise." Riley sighed and nodded her head hesitantly. She watched as Peter shifted nervously and bit his lip, playing with his fingers.

"A-aunt May...she was uh....she was diagnosed with cancer."

"Oh no.." Riley's expression saddened and her eyes softened maintaining their sympathetic gaze.

"And she uh..." Peter sucked in a breath, tears falling down his cheeks, "she died." He continued, giving into his tears and crying.

"Oh Peter..."

"This evening." Riley sighed and pulled Peter into a hug, caging him in her arms. As soon as Riley apologised, Peter broke into tears, sobbing harshly and collapsing into her arms, no longer supporting himself. He cried even harder than he had when aunt May died. It had all happened so fast. And having Riley apologise made it all the more real to him. He had no idea for how long he cried or how many times he heard Riley whisper 'I'm so sorry.' or 'It's okay.' What he did know though, was that he fell asleep before he was even done with his waterworks. It was the first time that he got any actual sleep in a long time. It truly had been a long day and he only hoped the future had a kinder fate in store for him.