Peter stormed out of the classroom, more than a bit bitter over the morning events that took place. A "normal" start all things considered, Spiderman was working overtime last night and only managed to get into bed for a measly handful of hours before getting up and going to school. Being a super powered teen came with some benefits, such as the ever grateful healing factor, but they also came with the unfortunate side effect of completely draining him of energy. A give and take sort of thing, super strength, stamina, and healing along with extra calorie intake, extra protein, and extra sleep. That being said, the beating he took from a lucky mugger with a knife required him sleeping through his alarm. Upon waking up he had to quickly get dressed, get cleaned up, and miss breakfast in order to websling to school. There he missed the bell by seconds and has been dealing with fatigue since.
Again, before, this would've been considered normal for Parker. What made the morning absolutely aggravating were his newly required teammates. When entering the classroom he was met with Ava's accusing glare from the front row, Sam and Luke's mocking chortles and Danny's slight shake of the head. His joy from greeting Harry, who had first period with him, was ruined by buckethead's paper wads bombarding the back of head. He might forgiven the little space-troll if the messages were about his health, but no, they were condescending comments on how much trouble he's gunna be when Ava corners him and how his spidey-sense were apparently failing him this morning.
Second period was worse. It was here where he lacked the support of both Harry and MJ. Danny normally was pretty cool in Pete's book, but here he would not shut up about how one needs his sleep in order to function, or to grow wiser. He honestly stopped listening when the monk started spouting about how he was slowly crippling himself due to his lack of health, or was is making him blind and seeing himself as strong? Not to mention Luke who was close by enough to nudge him awake whenever he though Peter was starting to dose. Thanks, but, no thanks. The class he was trying to nap in didn't have accurate participation grades, the teacher normally based his grading curricular around the assignments he gives. He needed some sleep or else Peter was going to start running into walls! He wanted to try and make it to lunch but he had to bail during third period. He used his old age excuse of needing to use the bathroom and here he was, hiding in a dusty vent smelling of B.O. and bleach.
He just knew that as soon as lunch started Ava will drag him away from his best friends and give him an earful on how he had no excuse in coming to school late. Then Danny spouts a proverb of his monk wisdom while Sam does something that will, most likely, tick him off.
Peter grips his scalp as he keeps the screams deep down into his throat. A soft thunk resonated in the metal walls as his head hits the vents. Then an almighty sigh escaped his lungs.
It wasn't his team's fault, it really wasn't. By now they have been doing this dance between SHEILD, school, and supers for almost a month. This wasn't the first time that he's shown up late nor explained to his team why he was late in the first place. I wasn't even the stupid stress that has always been there since he made the mask!
The thing that was bothering him was the same stupid, minuscule thing. A string of nicknames that his team uses whenever there in his presence, Pete, Webs, Webhead, Petey, Parker, etc. He knows it shouldn't bother him, and it doesn't. Truth is, it was not the words they use, it was when they use them. Just an hour earlier Sam had scribbled on one of those paper wads, "You broken Webs?" And "Good morning Itsy-Bitsy! :D"
It just bothers Pete how nonchalant Sam is when using the terms, as if Peter himself doesn't mind that anyone could glance over and read the graphite words. As if it didn't matter that Peter didn't want anyone to put two and two together. All four of them are like that and it drives Parker nuts!
They just don't get it.
They don't get the situation that he's been living with since he got his powers. They can't understand the importance behind hiding behind a mask in the first place. Honestly, Spiderman had tried again and again to explain to his team that, no, he is not OK with them calling him "Peter" or "Parker" when he's in costume. Ever.
Peter Parker is just an average science nerd in high school. Spiderman is one of New York's many heroes that look out for the little guys. It's not that hard to put together.
He doesn't know exactly what Fury wrote down in his file, but he must have left something out if his team can't get it though their heads that he wanted to be kept anonymous. Peter can't just ace gym after being known to fall on his bum even when standing. (Well, he was pushed most of the time but the title still stands.) He can't fight back Flash because by now, he's used to being bullied. He can't just take caution to the wind and fight super baddies without his costume because then they would know about his friends, his family.
There was a reason why he went with the full-mask in the beginning. Not only did it hide his features behind some rather unnerving pair of bug eyes, but it completely covered his face. None would be able to figure out the color of his eyes, his hair, or even skin color when in costume. The spandex covered his body completely. The most that anyone could get from his identity was his height, gender, and build. And even some of that was hard to tell, he's read on some theories (yes, Spiderman is known to look up his own theories…) and found out that many different interpretations were made. Some say he's tall and slender, others say he's well built but no one could ever tell due to his body stretching and contorting during fights, some even think that Spider wasn't even a dude at all! (Alright...Ouch, his wounded, manly pride…) Blonde with green eyes, flaming red hair and grey eyes, dyed blue hair with a spider tat, the list goes on.
He likes that he hasn't come across "brunette with brown eyes" in any of the listings.
And he would like to keep it that way for as long as possible.
Maybe it was the fact that his team had already been together for who knows how long, maybe it was just because he was still new to SHIELD, but he bets it's mostly him going solo for a year. Most of his biggest baddies didn't turn up until afterwards, but Spidey still had a decent number of villains who wanted to break him in every way possible. People who wouldn't hesitate in throwing someone off a bridge if they felt the poor soul were connected to Spidey in anyway possible. The type of people who would gladly hit-and-run MJ or Harry to leave a message. The type of monsters who could hunt down Aunt May and demand anything, and leaving Spiderman with no choice but to follow through because she's all the family he has left and-!
He wasn't going to let it get that far, even if it means keeping the mask on around other heroes.
Or, that was the game plan before-
The bell rang, loud and proud within the halls and bathroom. Well shoot, Peter didn't mean to hide away the entire period. Must have been lost in thought. Parker carefully lifted the vent cover from its web-hinges and fell back into the stall below. The halls outside were already covered with students. Lockers squeaked as they opened up, girls were heard gossiping and the guys were talking among themselves. Pete seamlessly weaved his way thorough the crowds towards his locker.
They rest of the school day went on, abnormally. If he had to guess then it would seem that his team had taken the time of day to give Peter some space to breathe. Harry immediately latched onto his shoulder to ask questions about him whenever he could. Mary Jane had been straight up blunt when inquiring about his dour attitude. As for the others, well, they did nothing more than give him quick glances every now and again. They kept their distance until school ended; from there they simply reminded Peter about "their thing after school" before leaving.
Walking back to get the books he needed he felt another paper wad hit his back. Picking it up and flattening it revealed the simple message. "You OK Webs?"
Maybe it was because school was over and no one else was in the halls, maybe it was the genuine questioning of his health, it might have just been that it was sent by via stupid paper wad. Whatever it was, Peter didn't mind that they addressed him as "Webs" this time around.
They were good kids, never mind that they're the same age as him. And Peter was never not thankful for the few things that life has gifted him. In another life, he probably could manage to pull of soloing for the rest of his days. A life filled with constant paranoia and the overwhelming weight of responsibility that practically drained his life force during the first eleven months of Spiderman's life. Not to mention the guilt from one of the really hard days when he especially felt lower than the sewer rats.
No, it was a day when his usual luck turned around and gave his something pretty special. The day when Fury stopped and made a one-sided deal and introduced this team of his, that day was pretty big game changer. They may not agree to everything, and maybe there were issues on both sides before they could be considered anything more than allies. But as he looked back up, flashing a small smile and a thumbs-up, Peter can't help but think maybe…
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let his guard down around them.
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