Not the Homecoming You Were Expecting
Summary: Takes place immediately after Spider-Man: Homecoming. What happens after Aunt May finishes her sentence? What if Peter was hurt more than he originally thought? Iron Man comes to the rescue of an injured Spider-Man. Rated T for the single swear word at the beginning of the story. Spoilers for Civil War and major spoilers for Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Happiness radiated through me, pure happiness. That was currently the only emotion running through my mind. The Vulture had been defeated, Mr. Stark is no longer angry with me, I've got the suit back; nothing can touch me. I smile to myself and pull off my mask, about to take the suit off in anticipation of Aunt May returning home. Tonight I would continue my patrol, as the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.
"What the f*ck!" Aunt May screams, and my stomach drops. Absolutely no excuses coming to the front of my brain, just like every other time a child is caught red-handed by their parent.
"I-I can explain!" The words rush out of my mouth as I start to understand just how entirely screwed I am. As I'm facing May, I see a lone tear drip out of her eye. "Aunt May, I think we should sit down and talk about this." My voice not wavering, sounding strong and confident, which betrays how I'm really feeling. My mind going a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out what I'm going to do. Should I tell the whole truth, should I take out the pieces she doesn't want to hear? My hand presses the spider on my chest, the suit immediately responded by essentially falling off my body. I threw it on my bed and quickly found a pair of jeans, stepped into them then found a t-shirt to pull over my head. I grabbed a still shocked May and pulled her into the living room, and sat her down on the couch beside me. A few minutes went by with complete silence, than shock turned into rage.
"Peter I swear, if you don't start talking I'm going to–" I quickly cut her off, not wanting to hear the end of that threat.
"Okay, okay! I just don't know where to start. I guess the beginning right?" I ask looking her in the eyes. She nods slowly. "Do you remember that fieldtrip we had last year? To the big company?" Another small nod, confusion showing on her face, at this seemingly irrelevant information. "Well, when we were there, I was taking notes and kinda got left by the group, I swear I tried to find my way back! I just, took the wrong door I guess and found myself in this room full of spiders, and I mean they were all over the place!" My voice quickly began picking up speed due to my nervousness. "As soon as I realized I was in the wrong room, I tried to leave but one of them landed on my hand and it bit me! I didn't realize until after that the spider was radioactive! I promise May!"
"Oh Peter, why didn't you tell me?" May sighed, "Well I know now, but I need to know the rest."
"May, it was my fault uncle Ben died, it was my fault." I hiccupped out the words; tears were running freely down my face now. Her eyes met mine once more, as she took in a sharp breath.
"What do you mean Peter? Don't say that!" At this point I couldn't control the sobbing that was escaping my chest.
"There was a robber, I had only just gotten my 'powers' and it was all so new. I let him run by! He was the one who shot uncle Ben!" If I were standing I pretty sure I would have fallen to my knees.
"Oh Peter! You couldn't have known! You didn't know. It's not your fault, don't you dare think that it is." Her voice became hard and fierce. "It just as easily my fault, I sent him out that night, if I hadn't sent him out then he wouldn't have been shot." My eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Aunt May! How can you think that?" Just then I realized what she was trying to say. But I still couldn't help myself, I'd let her think that I didn't blame myself, but I'll always feel the guilt. She quickly engulfed me into a vice grip of a hug.
"I love you Peter, I don't blame you. You're just a boy, this isn't your fault." She pulled away but held onto my shoulders and stared me in the eyes. "That being said, you're still in a lot of trouble for lying to me. You're going to go to your room, leave the door open and so help me God, if you climb out that window, I'm putting bars on it. I need some time to think about what you said. Do you understand?" I quickly nodded.
After lying in my bed for an ungodly amount of time, I saw May peak her head in through my doorway.
"Knock, knock." She said quietly, I smiled in response, sat up and made room for her on my twin bed. "So I've been thinking about what you've told me so far, and I think I understand what this 'Stark internship' really was, but I want to hear it from you." Well this isn't going to be fun, I thought to myself.
"Do you remember when Mr. Stark showed up to the apartment about two months ago? Well he needed some help with some Avengers stuff, and uh, I helped him?" That sounded lame to my own ears and I knew it wasn't going to satisfy aunt May. "I mean I don't want to tell you too much, I really don't want to get in trouble from Mr. Stark again. And I don't want you in any danger May." I looked up from my bedspread to see her face, expecting to see anger but instead I was met with an expression of understanding.
"I understand you don't want to put me in danger, but I need a bit more than that Peter. Not everything, just the bare minimum." She said slightly exasperated.
"Okay, well there was an . . . issue? It was between Mr. Stark and Captain America and he wanted my help to have Captain America see reason?" I tried to explain without giving too much away.
"So let me get this straight, you weren't at a Stark internship retreat, but instead you found yourself fighting Captain America and comrades in Germany?" Her look seemed to get more disapproving with each word she spoke.
"Uh, yes? But afterwards I just helped out the little guy around Queens. Helped a lady with directions, stopped a robbery or two, nothing as dangerous as that. But then there was this guy and he was using the alien tech from the avenger's battles and using it to sell to other, uh people? Anyways I tried to tell Mr. Stark and I got upset because he wasn't listening to me, or so I thought and I tried to fix it myself. Then the ferry incident happened and Mr. Stark got really angry with me and took away my suit, he told me to let it go and someone else would handle it. But I didn't listen and I tried to stop him myself, and I mean it worked, it was difficult, but I managed, even without my suit. Then the other day I went upstate with Happy, he's Mr. Starks driver, to the new Avenger's facility and he offered me a place on the team, but I turned it down because I want to be here in Queen's with you May, going to school and all the normal stuff. But I still need to be the Spider-Man. Please." I was begging at this point for her to understand.
"Okay." She understood. "BUT! There are rules. First, no skipping school your spider duties can wait. Second, I need to know where you are, when you are. Third, you're to be home before 2 a.m. you need your sleep. Fourth, don't keep any more secrets from me. Fifth, you tell me when you're leaving every time you leave. Understood? If you break any of these rule Peter, I will burn this suit in the dumpster outside of the building. I don't care how much it cost."
My phone buzzed, it was a text from Happy. 'Tony wants to know when you're starting your patrol tonight.' I showed it to aunt May.
"Go, but be safe! I larb you." She grabbed me into another hug. "Remember, back by 2 a.m.!" I offered her a quick smile
"Larb you too, aunt May." As she walked out my door I quickly undressed and pulled the suit on.
"Hello, Mr. Parker." My suit spoke to me.
"Hello Karen, let's get going." Sliding my window open I quickly looked and seeing no one, I jumped out the window and swung through the buildings. All was good, for now.