Chapter 6
I reached into my backpack and pulled out an extra pair of clothes, a pair of jeans and a faded MIT shirt. It was a struggle to put on skinny jeans in a wheelchair. I grabbed my laptop from my bag and headed up to the gym on the 29th floor. When the doors opened I saw Robin Hood and the Hammer-Head working with some type of moving targets in the left side of the gym. Tin-Man and Natasha (I don’t want to give her a reason to kill me by giving her a nickname) were over in the far right corner sparring with each other. Spangles was beating the shit out a poor punching bag. And The Green Bean was sitting at a desk working on some sort of weapon. I rolled out in my grandma mobile trying to avoid eye contact. I went over to the back of the gym away from everything, and everyone. I pulled out my laptop and started to work on my homework that Gwen had sent over. Two english papers, one science report, and some biology outlines. I still had to figure out how to sneak out of the tower, which seemed like it was going to be impossible with 2 master assassins, 1 super soldier, 1 billionaire-genius- playboy, 1 god, and 1 scientist/ giant green rage monster. Fun. I could try the windows again as long as JARVIS wasn’t going to tattle on me. Or I could try web-slinging out of here, but then I might pull my stitches and bleed out. Not fun. I think I’ll just take my chances walking out the front door, harmless, hopefully.
Peter took the grandma mobile out of the gym and into his room, yelling something about him going to his room. He went to his room, grabbed his hoodie, slipped it on and threatened JARVIS that he would find a way to disconnect him if he ratted Peter out. Then, the moment of truth. Could he even walk out the door. He placed his bandaged hands on the rubber armrests of the wheelchair and pushed himself up. It hurt like hell but he needed to get out and see Gwen. He took small, quick, and cautious steps to his door, then through the hall, into the elevator, into the lobby, out the doors. He stood outside the tower for a moment taking in the New York air, and he smiled a little. He started his journey to Gwen. He walked to the subway and got on a train heading North, he got off 30 minutes later and proceeded to walk another 3 blocks west. He reached an old abandoned warehouse.
He would always come here to train if the other warehouse was to much of a risk of being discovered, or just get away from everything. He had even stayed here overnight a few times. He walked in, the old metal doors squeaking closed behind him. He walked to the left and flipped on a small switch, turning on tons of lights. The warehouse was very well hidden from everyone so Peter wasn’t worried about being discovered. He walked through the warehouse into a large room that was made into a nice living room. Except, this one was much nicer than the other warehouse that he did other training at. He flicked on a nearby lamp and was startled to find Gwen passed out on the couch in a peaceful sleep. He smiled and walked over to her gently arousing her from her dreams. It took her a minute to realize who she was looking at. “PETER” she jumped up wrapping her arms around him, holding on tight like it was the last time that she would ever see him again. “Hi” was all Peter could get out because she was squeezing him so much, it hurt but he didn’t want her to let go. “I missed you” she said. “I missed you too” he managed regain some air in his lungs. Gwen’s sweet smile turned into a serious face, “start talking, now.” Oh, god here we go, he took a deep cleansing breath. “I was on patrol one night when Doc Oct. stabbed me and beat me up pretty good, like I was bleeding out, anyway...I guess I passed out. Cap found me and took me back to Avengers Tower. And then when I woke up I may or may not have had an adrenaline rush and crawled up the wall, unto the ceiling and out a window in an attempted escape. They shot me with a lovely sedative so when I got to my training place I passed out, Iron Man then collected me and took me back to the tower. I pulled most of my stitches and almost killed myself, again. And I’m currently supposed to be in a wheelchair back at the tower recovering, but I said that I was going to my room and got up and walked out the front doors, and came here.”
Gwen was looking at me with an 'oh-my-god-peter-stop-trying-to-kill-yourself' look. “I don’t really know how to respond to that Pete.” “That’s okay just don’t.” She sat down and put her head in her hands, “Let me see” she said. “See what” I tried to play it off cool but my voice cracked. “Now” she said in a ‘don’t mess with me’ tone. I took off me hoodie and pulled my t-shirt off. Her face had pure horror painted on it perfectly. I looked down and realized why. My body was covered in dark purple bruises, brown and yellow around the edges. Several large cuts, and scabs also peppered my body. You could see old scars and could pick out what would become new scars. When I looked up, I saw a single tear fall and slide down her cheek. I hugged her and told her that I was okay, even if I wasn’t. I decided not to think about how far away I was from okay, or even remotely, fine.
Gwen and him talked a little longer before heading home. They decided to take separate subways, just in case. Gwen went home first catching the 9:15 stop, Peter would catch the next one at 10:00. He had lost track of time and just prayed to god that everyone at the tower decided to let him be alone. He walked into the lobby of the tower undetected and into the elevator. He picked his floor, 23, and up he went. It wasn’t until now did Peter realize how much trouble he could get in, out of the wheelchair, out of the tower, out in general. Luckily his prayers were answered and no one noticed his absence. He walked into his room and locked the door behind him. On his way home he had picked up some clothes from his house while Aunt May was out. He decided to jump In the shower. The hot water felt so refreshing, and cleansing. It washed away dirt and dried blood that covered his body. I rested his head on the wall in front of him. Arms also pressed up against the cool tile wall. He didn’t know how long he had been in the shower when he snapped out of his thoughts. He turned off the water and missed its gentle touch on his skin. He changed into a grey pair of joggers and a red hoodie. He wiped off the mirror and looked at himself. He looked tired, and skinny. He didn’t want to eat he wasn’t hungry. ‘I don’t deserve to eat, I’m nothing. I get bullied and beat up, I’m weak.’ he thought. ‘I’ll just skip dinner and go to bed.’ Peter limped over to his bed and flopped down face first, falling asleep instantly. He was utterly, and absolutely dead tired.
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After Peter didn’t show up for dinner Tony and Steve went to go and check on Peter. They were slightly concerned when he didn’t answer the door. “JARVIS open the kids door” “Yes sir, opening the door now.” Steve grasped the doors handle, and pushed it open cautiously. The lights were on still, they both walked in and scanned the room. They both laid eyes on Peter at the same time and chuckled slightly. They walked over to the kids bedside. He was laying on top over covers sideways, snoring lighty. His hair was damp and stuck to the sides of his face. Cap bent down and picked him up gently, Peters head leaning in in his chest,legs dangling off of Cap’s other arm. Tony pulled the covers back for him and fixed his pillow. Cap laid him down gently, Peter’s arms held onto Cap’s as he pulled away, he seemed to lean into him too. Steve gently placed Pete’s hands on the bed. Tony pulled the covers over the teen and smiled. They both stood there for a moment looking at him. “Why doesn’t he ever at anything?” “I don’t know Rodgers, but he needs to eat something soon, he’s making me nervous. Bruce got results back from the kids blood. He said that his metabolism should be almost as large as yours.” “Your kidding, I’m going to make him eat like 12 waffles tomorrow.” Tony chuckled at what Steve said. Tony leaned into Steve’s shoulder. “I love you.” Cap grabbed onto Tony’s waist and pulled him farther into him, “I love you too.”