Chapter Two.
Peter walked the grey halls of his school wearily. He hadn't gone to sleep until 2:30am. When he finally did walk down his spiral stairs that morning, to an already exercised and energetic Steve making toast and coffee, he got the usual "that's why we should have never let him have that dam, mechanical, Y-Box thing in his room. Look at him Tony!"
"Mmm hmmm… I hear you, I hear you. So, Peter, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"I finally killed Anduin,"
"That's my boy!"
"Tony!"
"Steve, if you played, you'd understand the awesomeness," to which Steve just shook his head, hiding a sad smile. He was still out of sorts when it came to technology. 'Just not of my generation, son,' he'd say whenever Peter tried to explain 'that internet thing,' to his Dad. Tony was looking just as tired as Peter. They both sat with their shoulders hunched, heads tilted slightly towards the floor, hair a mess and crescent moon circles under their eyes. Peter had definitely taken after his father; they both loved their gadgets.
"Hey there Parker!" Someone said behind Peter, drawing his attention from the morning's memory. A fairly tall girl, with vibrant, thick red hair and green eyes came daintily pouncing down the hallway towards him. She had tanned, peach coloured skin and little brown freckles spotted like daisies in a field over her cheeks.
Mary Jane.
Peter couldn't help but smile as she caught up with him, and wrapped her arms around his back. She'd been on holiday in Norway, skiing with her Uncle. It felt great to have his best friend back.
"Hey M.J, how was Norway?" He asked, as the two walked to Chemistry together.
"Fucking amazing! You should have seen the ski slopes! They, were, MASSIVE! And the scenery, especially early in the morning. With the sun rising over the top of Hemsedal. You should definitely come along next time,"
"What, and miss out on all the fun I have here at school. I think I'll pass," He joked, and in they went.
Of course, they were met with the usual statements from their classmates. Someone will say (loudly) how 'hot' Mary Jane was. And Peter couldn't deny that, clad tightly in a white top that showed off her toned, busty frame, and tight, ripped jeans, anyone with eyesight would hit on her. But with the compliments, come the 'why the fuck is she hanging out with Peter?' comments. The fact that the entire school doesn't believe that your best friend would even accept your existence can be a bit of a downer. M.J would usually reply with a sarcastic comment or flip them the middle finger, but being her first day back, she couldn't really be bothered. All she wanted to do was make sure Peter was ok. No one will ever understand how guilty she felt leaving him for Norway. All the shit he goes through on a daily basis; Flash, his parents, school, the media attention. She secretly swore that she would always be there to protect him, and by God was she going to stick to her promise.
"So, how are you?" She asked as they sat down next to each other.
"Pretty good, you know. How was your Uncle?" He asked in return. She knew his antics, how easily he can turn a conversation or brush off everything like it's no big deal, when truly he was dying inside. Mary Jane left it for the time being, but only because their teacher strolled in, and began setting up for class.
"His usual self. Egotistical, sex crazed, and unstable,"
"I know how that goes," Peter said.
"Alright class, let's get started! Class?" The teacher asked, as everyone continued to talk, "Alright, SHUT IT!" He yelled, causing the class to turn towards him, lips zipped. At that moment Gwen decided to walk in. Her tan jacket billowed out behind her, showing off her tight blue top and knee length grey skirt. Her signature black headband held her hair off her beautiful face. She was clutching her books close to her chest, something that unnerved Peter. She was absolutely stunning, and anyone who looked like that shouldn't be shielding the outside world with Chemistry, Biology and Physics workbooks. She turned swiftly down Peter's isle, the only remaining seat that of the table next to him. Her blue eyes caught Peters, and for a second he was lost in them.
Mary Jane couldn't help but joyfully snicker beside him. She had pulled her legs up, crossing them underneath herself, and was balancing like a cat on her stool. Peter looked over, blushing violently, and wacked her leg, hoping she'd shut her trap.
"Turn to page 107 of your workbook please, class," the teacher said, and began writing up notes on the board. Mary Jane and Peter flicked their heavy books open, scanning the page to see how much work they were being forced to achieve. Peter shyly found himself looking over at Gwen. She too flickered her eyes in his direction. Joining gazes once more, Gwen blushed, smiled confidently, but turned back to her workbook.
"So, when are you going to ask her out?" Mary Jane whispered beside him.
"Shut up!" he hushed, squirming in his seat. He looked over, hoping that Gwen hadn't heard M.J.
She was smiling under a curtain of hair. Yes, she'd heard, and she was wondering the exact same thing. But her mid-shoulder blonde hair hid her face, leaving Peter wondering.
Chemistry soon came to close, with four pages of homework and study for a new block test that was coming up. As the class began packing up their books, grumbling, the teacher spoke up again.
"Shh! Everyone, there is a compulsory field trip to a public, science exhibit next week Thursday. I expect you all to attend. Permission slips are at the front of the class. Everyone will take one, and everyone will deliver it back to me by Monday next week. You are dismissed."
"Great, a field trip," M.J complained, pulling her red leather bag over her shoulder.
"I'm kinda looking forward to it," Someone said to Peter's left. He looked over to see Gwen staring hopefully towards him.
"Yeah, ah, me too,"
"I heard that Dr. Miles Warren will be there,"
"Oh, right. Yeah, yeah cool,"
"Maybe, we could walk round, the expo, I mean. Together. Obviously, ha! I'm rambling, ok I'll shut up…"
"No- yeah! I mean, yes. That sounds, cool,"
"Ok, cool,"
"Cool…"
"Right, so… see you tomorrow, or, around school. As we have like, three other classes together,"
"Ha! Yeah, ah… I'll see you then…" With that Gwen turned on her heel, going slightly off balance, and dashed out of the classroom. Peter was a little unsure of what just happened, exactly, but Mary Jane was very sure. And she couldn't keep the laughter in for much longer.
"How, many times, can you say, 'cool' in one, conversation. Your face!" she laughed, as Peter turned bright red.
"Fuck off," he said; pulling is bag over his shoulder and angrily grabbing a slip from the teacher.
The end of the school day couldn't have come sooner, what with around twenty pages of homework and an unneeded headache looming just behind Peter's eyes. He and Mary Jane were walking towards the school's gate, finishing off a conversation on how annoying the English essay was going to be.
"You need a ride home?" Peter asked, "Steve's going to come pick me up." They left the school grounds and walked a wee bit down the road, and waited by a concrete wall. It was off the main drag, meaning attention wouldn't be brought to him when his superhero parents did come pick him up.
"Go back to yours to hang out a little bit?" Mary Jane suggested, moving her bag strap from her left to her right shoulder.
"You mean study, right kids?" Steve asked, suddenly behind the pair.
"Hey there Cap!" M.J replied, smiling up at the tall superhero. The sun was shining perfectly behind him, illuminating his golden hair. Peter couldn't help but shudder.
Perfect Dad being perfectly annoying he muttered to himself.
"Yeah, we'll be studying, don't you worry!" M.J continued, looking back at Peter. He just nodded solemnly. They walked towards Steve's beautiful, 1930's V8 Cadillac. It was a dark blue, and was completely out of place in the big city. But Steve, occasionally, took it out for a spin. Said it needed to go out and see the daylight, instead of collect rust in Tony's show-pen. Which, of course, Tony would never allow to happen, but he played into Steve's backwards way of remembering his past.
As they entered the car, Peter overheard Steve ask "What's up with Pete?" to which Mary Jane shrugged her shoulders. She planned to find out though.
The ride home was quick and care-free. When they drove the old beauty, cars seemed to move out of the way for them, like it was king of the road or something. Attention that Peter didn't like.
Paul, Jamie and Toby all greeted the trio with smiling faces, and soon they were up at the top of Stark Industries tower, helping themselves to Coke and chips.
"Now, what I want to hear up there is nothing but study, ok kids?" Steve said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Peter replied, balancing the coke bottle under his armpit as he moved towards the stairs. Steve did his normal 'kids these days' head shake, his brilliant smile spread across his face. Peter and M.J reached the top of the stairs and opened the door to his room. Quickly, they chucked their supplied onto his bed, got out the controllers, and began a COD split screen online game.
Downstairs Steve was looking through some recipe books, deciding what he was going to make for dinner tonight. Since being re-awoken, he'd taken on a new lease of life. He signed up for cooking classes, this new stretching thing called Yoga, and dancing lessons. He looked down towards his pocket, where her photo, still cased in his no longer working compass, sat. Now-days, whenever he tried remembering her, all that came to mind was gun fire, Hydra, and then the day Bucky fell…
"JARVIS, tell Tony to come up, he's done enough work for the evening," Steve said towards the roof. He quickly went to his room, where he began running a bath. He squirted some bubble-bath stuff in, sprinkled on some bath salts, and quickly changed out of his jeans and shirt.
"JARVIS, tell Tony that I'm waiting in the bath,"
In the distance he heard JARVIS's English voice re-lay the words. The familiar sound of Tony quickly dropping his mechanical tools and loudly saying 'oh, yes please,' sounded out through the house. Steve smiled to himself, knowing that this was the place he wanted to be; in the future, with a wonderful son and loving husband.
Who he was about to show just how much he loved him.
Peter pulled off his heavy, warm jacket and chucked it onto the floor.
The screech of a kill rang out from the speakers, "Fuck yes! Headshot!" Mary Jane shouted, looking towards Peter.
"You bitch!" He yelled, being spawned in a crowded corner. His team was loosing.
M.J couldn't help but automatically look down at his now bare wrists. After knowing Peter for three years, it was as normal a thing as shaking someone's hand or giving a friend a hug. The long, deep cuts were bright red and angry. They stood out against his skin like a, well, exactly what they were. Self inflicted slices of skin. She gasped without meaning to.
Peter's heart began to race, and paranoid ideas came to mind.
What if she freaks out entirely?
These ones are really bad
What if she tells Tony or Steve?
Oh god they can't know
Not even Mary Jane was supposed to know
Fuck you are so stupid!
How could you let your friendship with her suffer like this!
She shouldn't have to deal with your bullshit problems
She'll probably leave now
Cowardly, he couldn't bring his eyes up to look at her. Instead, he kept looking straight ahead, at the TV. Someone came up behind him and stabbed him, resulting in the familiar screech of a kill. Mary Jane, holding the upper hand of 'Player One,' exited out of the live game.
"Peter…"
"Listen, M.J, I get that you want to help, or something like that, but it's just, it's none of your business,"
"Peter, I made it my business the day I found you cutting when we were fourteen years old. I am your best friend. This is my business." But she didn't say it angrily. There was this motherly concern behind her voice, which instantly calmed Peter's thundering heart.
"I, just… Flash had been a dick, you know? And Tony just wouldn't shut up. And then I just started, screaming at myself. And, yeah…"
"Want to go up onto the landing for a smoke and talk about it?"
"Not really, but I'll go for the smoke,"
"Fine then," Mary Jane said, knowing fully well that Peter was going to talk.
The two best friends sat on the rooftop, looking over the already dark sky. Twinkling lights littered their skyline, and not a cloud obscured the dark ceiling of their world. It seemed Peter was up on this rooftop a lot. But, unlike with his Dad, he did talk with Mary Jane. When he let the first words out, he just couldn't seem to stop. Then the tears came in and all hell broke loose.
"I'm just pathetic. There's no point, in, anything, anymore," He said, quickly wiping the drops of water from his face.
"Peter, you are worth so much. Fuck, I couldn't imagine a world where you weren't in it. You are a genius, you have two amazing parents who love you, and, well, I love you too…" Peter took this chance to lighten the mood and look at her sarcastically questioningly.
"Oh, shut up! Friendship love!"
"Right, right, right. Sure. You tell yourself that next time you're-" but Mary Jane cut him off by smacking his shoulder. They laughed for a while, and watched as a world went on just under their very feet.
Carefully, they went back into Peter's room, hopped under the blankets and fell asleep.