The dining room is quiet, in fact, far too quiet for Tony Stark's liking. There are about seven empty chairs which should have been filled, and there's an awkward space between everyone who actually decided to show up for dinner tonight. They were having an all-American barbecue; emphasis on were because Vision nearly burnt the whole goddamn place down. Rhodey had to order from Five Guys real quick while Pepper had to comfort the android. Poor bastard, he tried.

Steve had been in charge of the grill in the past, and boy did that guy know how to flip a mean burger. The shit Vision made almost had him tempted to pull out that old cell phone. Almost.

He'd have to use it at some point, and as much as he dreaded having to confront Steve again and all that unresolved tension from Siberia, Tony would suck it up for the fate of the world. Aliens don't give a shit about your personal conflicts.

Now that he had the time to cool off, Tony understood. He didn't like it, and it stung that Steve never told him about his parents, but he understood. What if Rhodey was in that position? Not in control of his body, used as a weapon for decades, and forced to kill innocents. How can you believe your best friend brutally murdered someone? How do you react seeing it on tape? Hell, how do you tell their kid what happened? "Hey, sorry, my buddy may have strangled your mom to death and bashed your old man's face in."

If he had lost everything, everyone he had ever cared about in an ever changing world that Tony could barely keep up in already, he would have moved heaven and earth for Rhodey. It was just a damn shame it all ended how it did. He should have never… he should have stopped himself…

He was going to do it. He would've killed him. And then what would've happened? Would it have felt good to stare down at the corpse of a tortured, broken man who wasn't in control of his action, knowing that he became the exact thing everyone thought Bucky was: a murderer. To see Steve lose the last of his 'family', to force him to watch Tony deliver the final blow in an execution… It wouldn't have brought them back.

They were never coming back.

Siberia brought out a side of him he didn't want to see again. And the worst part was, it seemed Bucky wanted to die. That hopeless look in his piercing blue eyes, begging him to end his hell of over seventy years, it kept Tony up at night. For the Winter Soldier, the only way he could redeem himself was through his death. His own mind turns against him with just a simple phrase. Now, that was a poor bastard.

"Hey, I know you're pissed about the burgers, but Five Guys is quality food and if you're not going to eat yours, I will." Rhodey's voice snaps him out of his thoughts and he realizes he has a death grip on a very greasy bun. His oldest friend raises a brow. "You okay, Tony?" he asks.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Tony takes a bite of his burger with an eye roll. "Though, your definition of quality food is a lot different than mine. Jesus, this is a heart attack wrapped up in a bun. You want me to drop dead, Rhodes?"

Rhodey reached over and stole some of his fries. "You're funny. You're not objecting to eating it, though. Clearly, you enjoy it. Unless, of course, you want to give it to me."

"No thanks" Tony replied with a smirk. "None of this would have happened if someone kept Vision from the damn grill." He paused when he saw a look of hurt come across the android's face. "No offense, buddy."

"It's fine. I understand." Vision stares off at the wall, playing with his fries. He doesn't have to eat unlike the rest of them, and he only just started coming to dinner again, but he did enjoy cooking. Wanda used to help him in the kitchen…

They all knew he missed her. God, it was so obvious that he was hopelessly in love with the girl. Wanda wasn't a fan of Tony that much; she had just been starting to come around when the Sokovia Accords came around, but she and Vision were nearly attached to the hip. Wherever she went, he followed like a lovesick puppy. They were equals: young and inexperienced with powers that were not only new to them but drew fear. She helped the android adjust in society and gave him humanity, and in return he validated hers.

Honestly, a better love story than Twilight, but it ended like a Shakespearian tragedy. She was gone. Last Tony had heard from some 'sources', Wanda spent her days doing aid work in her home country, Sokovia. When not doing missions with the Avengers, Vision spent most of his time sitting in her room, moping about the compound, and watching TV. Yeah, Tony knew about all the shitty rom-com's he watched; he could see his Netflix history. Hey, if he could get some more people into the Avengers, perhaps he wouldn't be so lonely and get over this crush. You know, make friends, use those social skills he practiced on with Wanda.

Pepper comes around the corner with her own plate full of food and gives the two men the stink eye. "Ignore them, Vis," she said, putting her free hand on the android's shoulder. "You tried. And, hey, you don't get better at something until you try."

"Thank you, Ms. Potts," Vision frowned, still looking as if someone kicked a puppy right in front of him. Jesus, Tony would have to schedule play dates for the guy.

She sits down in one of the many empty seats beside Tony. "For the last time, call me Pepper, please."

"My apologies."

Then, the blonde turns her attention to Tony, her bright blue eyes never leaving his dark brown ones. "So," she began as she took a bite of her salad, "how is Peter?"

He raised a brow. "What do you mean, how's Peter? The kid's fine."

"Alright, I just haven't heard from him since the press conference. You know, the one where he was supposed to join the team?"

"And we turned it into a lovely proposal," Tony replied, motioning to the ring on her finger.

She rolled her eyes. "You always have to make everything a spectacle, Tony Stark." Of course, she fought back a smile when he leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Stop, you have grease on your face!" Pepper laughed, throwing some napkins at him.

Rhodey pretends to gag while Vision slumps forward, even more depressed.

"Hey, robot son," Tony frowned, "what's going on, buddy?"

"Nothing, Mr. Stark."

Damn, it must have been serious if being called 'son' didn't make him a flustered mess. Everything seemed to make the android sputter and blush like a schoolgirl. Now, everyone's eyeing him.

"Vis, you can tell us what's up," Rhodey says, lightly nudging the other's shoulder. "We're like family."

He sighed before glancing up from his plate and right at Tony. "I find myself very lonely anymore. Devoid of any companionship. Many times, Ms. Potts… Pepper is away working, and Rhodes is not always in the compound, and you are busy in your lab and I do not wish to intrude…"

It breaks Tony's heart seeing him so upset. It's like when your kid has a birthday party and no one comes. You'll pay for them to just come along and be nice, but deep down, they don't care about him. The other employees at the compound: Hill, Cho, Happy? They had better things to do than hang out with a socially awkward robot.

Before the team split, Wanda was probably the only true friend he had.

"You know, you can come to my lab anytime," Tony smiles. "Listen, it sucks being alone, but I promise you, it's going to get better soon."

"Yeah," Rhodey interjects. "Soon this table will be full of new faces. You'll never be alone." He pauses when Vision cups his chin and stares off into the distance. "If you're ever feeling down, you can always give me a call."

"I hate how I can feel like a human, but yet struggle to communicate like one. I say things, and do things, but they just come out wrong, and in the end I push people away." By people, he's definitely talking about her.

Pepper put a hand to her chest. "This is all still new to you, Vis. You're getting better, though." She elbows Tony. "Isn't he getting better, Tony?" she hisses.

"O-Oh, yeah, of course." He only scared off one small child this month. Note, don't take androids to parks, they creep toddlers out.

Pepper takes a bite of her salad. "Just because Peter isn't an Avenger doesn't mean he can't stop by once in awhile. He still needs training."

Tony shrugged, earning himself a scowl from both Rhodey and his fiancée. "I don't know," he begins. "I'm thinking of giving the kid some space for now; letting him do his own thing, only stepping in if he screws up-"

Rhodey shakes his head while giving him the classic 'I'm disappointed in you' expression that was natural to military men. God, Steve always had the same face. "You know, when you brought the kid over to Leipzig, I told you that by inviting him, you needed to be involved. You couldn't just give him the suit and send him on his way."

Pepper nodded. "He worships the ground you walk on," she added, making Tony feel a pang of guilt. He hadn't been the most active mentor, but he didn't want to be breathing down the kid's neck. With the suit, he had everything he needed, and Happy was probably checking up on him. Probably…

"What do you want me to do?" Tony asked, exasperated. "Take the kid out to baseball games? Stop by and see his school plays? Go to his decathlon tournaments?"

Rhodey and Pepper glanced at each other before nodding in agreement. "Yeah," Rhodey replied, "yeah, that would be nice."

"Come on, I'm not the kid's dad!"

"He doesn't have one, remember? You're the only male role model he's got." It's the way Pepper says it that feels like a knife is in his heart, and Tony felt it before. Doesn't help that she puts her hand on his and stares up at him with those gorgeous eyes of hers. "It'd mean the world to him if you took some time out of your schedule and hung out with him."

He ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I'll try to do something with him after the Veteran's Auction-"

"I don't have a problem with him going." Rhodey quirked a brow. "Maybe, he can keep your dumbass from buying stupid shit you'll never use and regret later. I can't seem to get to you."

"Come on, I don't know what fifteen-year old that thinks that going to a dinner auction is the definition of fun."

"I know if a fifteen-year-old was invited by his personal hero and had a love of Star Wars, he'd have a blast," Rhodey replied. "The theme is sci-fi; it's full of old antique and weird items, maybe some actual costumes and stuff from the set of Star Wars. He'd love that shit."

"Besides, he would get a free dinner," Vision interjected. "Most people love free dinners."

Pepper gasped. "Oh, you could get him something, Tony! Isn't his birthday coming up?"

"Alright, alright," Tony threw his hands up in defeat. "I'll give him a call tonight. I don't think he'll want to go, though."

"I think he'd love to go, and if you don't call him, I'm going to kick your ass," Pepper said coolly.

Shit, she was definitely serious. He could face Ultron, the Chitauri, but a pissed off Pepper had him shake in his shoes. He'd like to avoid an ass kicking, thank you.


Brigid Tenenbaum lived in an old, gray slightly run down Victorian home not too far out of the city. The second Cindy stepped out of her car, she noticed the perfectly mowed lawn, adorable little garden, an old swing set, and the little hands that were imprinted on the stepping stones leading up to her porch. It was just as how she remembered as a child…

"You can take off your shoes at the door," Mama Tenenbaum says, taking one of the girl's coats to hang on the rack. She tucks a loose strand of gray hair behind her ear. "I believe I have some snacks that are still good in the cabinets if you are hungry." She walked over to the television and handed Cindy the remote. "You children can watch television or play outside."

Most of the girls stand still, their eyes never leaving her even as she leaves for the kitchen. Cindy plays with the hem of her new dress. The second they had gotten to shore, Tenenbaum had been waiting for them with a suitcase full of new clothes and toys. Apparently, they were from a friend.

All Cindy wanted to do was go home to Mommy. But, if Mommy thought she was dead, did it mean she had forgotten about her? What if she had gotten a new husband and baby? Her little mind raced with the possible scenarios. Daddy was gone. Daddy wouldn't be there for her anymore.

She wished he was here. He always knew how to make her feel better. He'd run a hand through her hair, hold her in his strong arms, and whisper soothing words into her ear. Maybe, if she imagined he was here, she'd feel better.

It didn't work.

Cindy's eyes stung the second she thought about his voice, the whole living room became blurred. The other girls were off doing their own thing, playing outside or exploring the house. They had a mommy or daddy. Well, most of them did. Mama Tenenbaum said she was going to get the orphans new parents.

She couldn't get a new daddy. She didn't want a new daddy.

"Are you alright?" Standing in the doorway, munching on some graham crackers, was the princess. Well, that's what most of the other girls called her. Her real name was Eleanor Lamb. She didn't look like much of a princess with that grimy, smelly Big Sister suit on. Back when the world was perfect before, that fake daddy killed her real daddy, it looked like a beautiful ball gown; something that Cinderella would wear.

Cindy wiped her nose, taking a shuddering breath. "I'm okay," she hiccupped.

The older girl's piercing blue eyes are full of concern. "You don't sound okay," she replied, moving to sit on the couch.

"I-I just miss my dad." Her lip quivered and it came out as a sob. "I miss him so much and this is all my fault-"

"None of this was your fault, Cindy," Eleanor gently scolded. "Don't think like that. Your father wouldn't want you to be beating yourself up."

Daddy would be so upset to know if she was sad. He always hated to see her cry; he'd have done anything to make her feel better. The little girl nodded shakily. "Y-Yeah, he wouldn't." She stared up at Eleanor. "It doesn't get any easier, does it?"

"What?" Eleanor asked, raising a brow.

"Losing the ones you care about. Letting go of that blame."

The teenage girl was taken aback before her gaze fell to the carpet. "No, it doesn't," she replied solemnly. "I suppose the most we can do is live for them. That's what they would want."

"Do you miss him?" Cindy murmured.

"Yes. Not a single day goes by where I don't think about him." Eleanor tapped her head with a finger. "I have his memories, his spirits, his drives, but it's not the same when he's not here by my side. I wish I could bring him back again, but he's gone."

Cindy hopped on the cushion beside her. "When I grow up, I want to help people like my Daddy did. Maybe, stop other little girls from becoming like me." She paused. "That's what Daddy would want. He always said I was smart."

"You are wise beyond your years, Ms. Meltzer."

A tiny smile formed on her lips and she wiped away the last of her tears. "What are you going to do? Are you going to live with Mama Tenenbaum or with her friend? She said he has other girls your age, so you can make friends and go to school!"

Her shoulder's slumped forward. "I'm actually… I'm leaving."

Cindy's large eyes become saucers. "W-What?" she stammered.

"I'm leaving," Eleanor states again.

"Why?"

"This world is not ready for me, and I am not ready for it." She stands up, towering over the seven-year-old, and makes her way to the window. "You grew up on the surface, you were once a normal little girl, and you still are, but me? I will never fit in."

Cindy runs over to her. "That's not true! You can be normal!"

"I can shoot fireballs out of my fingertips," Eleanor frowned. "Most girls can't do that."

Cindy stomped her foot. "Most girls don't drink the blood of dead people, but here we are!"

"I am a lost cause, but the people here are not." The teenager stared at the skyline with a sense of longing. "That city… New York… it draws me in, and for some reason, I just cannot escape."

"Are you a superhero?" Cindy whispered. "Like Captain America?"

Eleanor grabbed her helmet off of the coffee table and put it on, it's porthole glowing green. "I suppose I am." She turned to the seven-year old. "Tell Mama Tenenbaum I'm sorry, and that I will never forget what she's done for me."

"You can't just leave now!"

"I have to. It'll be easier to not have to face the other girls and Mama Tenenbaum. Good luck, Cindy Meltzer, and good bye."

She wrapped her legs around the other girl's legs just as she disappeared into a puff of purple smoke. Cindy cried out and fell flat on her face. She rubbed her nose as she glanced around the now empty living room. She was gone. Just like that, Eleanor Lamb literally vanished into thin air, never to be seen again.

The sound of footsteps made Cindy turn her head back to the kitchen. "Cindy? Eleanor?" Mama Tenenbaum called. "What was that? Is everything alright?"

"Yes, Mama Tenenbaum!"

Cindy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It had been over fifty years since that day, nearly half a century. Was Eleanor still alive? Did her dream of becoming a vigilante work out for her? Did she decide to retire out and raise a family? Or did she…

Cindy didn't want to think about the worst that could have befallen on the girl. She liked to believe Eleanor had her happy ending, no matter what it was, though all things pointed otherwise. How could a fifteen-year-old girl possibly survive alone in New York City?

Before she can ring the doorbell, the front door slowly opens and standing there is Brigid Tenenbaum herself. Cindy's breath hitches at the sight of the old woman: the way she hunches over her cane, her once long, gray hair now short as can be and white as snow, her wrinkled face. Cindy had remembered a strong, intimidating protector, not someone so delicate. Now, she was towering over the doctor. The roles had reversed.

"Are you going to say something, or are we just going to stare at each other?" Tenenbaum finally asked, breaking the silence.

Cindy coughed into her fist. "Ah, yes, sorry." She stared the elderly woman down from top to bottom. "You're living out on your own?"

"Just because I am old does not make me an invalid," Tenenbaum scoffed, motioning the FBI agent inside. "I can handle myself just fine."

"You've had this house for fifty-years." Cindy picked up an old picture frame and traced her finger on the black and white photo of beaming little girls. "How many children have walked through these doors?"

"Too many."

There were tons of pictures on the numerous counters and tables throughout the house. Some of them were of Tenenbaum as a child, but others were from proms, graduations, weddings, baby showers from every decade and numerous generations. Hell, she even had vacation photos of complete strangers that had spanned up to very recently. One that caught Cindy's eye was of an adorable, little brunette girl sitting on a bench, eating ice cream while chatting away to her father, who seemed completely engrossed in the conversation.

"That is one of my Little One's grandchildren with her father," Tenenbaum states from the other room. "Sounds weird to say, doesn't it? My Little Ones are not so little anymore."

Cindy picked up a picture of Tenenbaum smiling beside two elderly men. "And them?"

"Very dear friends, whom I miss very much."

Out of the dozens of frames that she had seen, none of them had Eleanor in them. Cindy crossed her arms and watched as the elderly woman poured some drinks. "Whatever happened to Eleanor Lamb?"

Tenenbaum put down the pitcher of lemonade and frowned. "She is no longer of this world," she answered, her voice cracking slightly.

"Jesus."

"She passed not long after she left," she continued. "I was there. I saw her die."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," Cindy walked over and wrapped her arm around the other's shoulder. Well, a fifty-year-old mystery had been solved, and it was just as she feared.

Tenenbaum clenched her fists, shaking. "She was a good girl. It was my fault she was murdered-."

"What do you mean?" Cindy said with raised brows.

"I will tell you another day. The memories, they are too painful now." Tenenbaum blinked away tears. "I did not invite you here for stories. I brought you here for a plan."

"Yeah, to get Tony Stark to believe in Rapture," Cindy said, still uneasy. "How are you going to do that?"

"I am famed geneticist, Stark and I both have love for science; we are curious thinkers, two birds of a feather. Our love of science hurts- kills others, we repent, we try to make the world a better place, but everything still falls apart."

"What are you getting at?"

"We catch something that catches our eyes, we must have it, we must work on it, mold it, shape it." She moves slowly to the garage door and turns on the lights, motioning for Cindy to follow. "I have something that will catch Stark's eye. Something he would kill to have." She stopped at a tall, cylinder shaped object covered up.

"And what is that?"

"Rapture."

Tenenbaum ripped the sheet off with the tenacity not seen by any old woman Cindy had encountered before and watched as Cindy coughed and sputtered at the dust. "Do you not recognize it?" she asked. "I know you have seen this."

As soon as Cindy could catch her breath, she gasped, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. "What the fuck?"

"Watch your language," Tenenbaum snapped.

Maybe, Cindy wouldn't have been cursing if a Vita-Chamber wasn't standing a mere foot away from her. Holy shit, she hadn't seen one of these things since she was a kid. She took a step forward and traced her finger along the glass, collecting dust. It wasn't as glamorous as she remembered. The velvet cushioning inside was torn apart and waterlogged, the once beautiful, golden wings were now a rusted red, and the neon lights were busted out. Instead of Vita-Chamber, it was Ita-Cham. Sounded like a bad STD.

"Weren't these things planted in the ground?" Cindy asked, turning to the doctor. "How did you get this?"

"By some strange occurrence, I found it at an antique store. My dearest friend, Mr. Porter, had a love of old knick-knacks and asked me to go one day, which was where I found this on display," Tenenbaum began. "We both nearly had a heart attack when we saw it. We ask cashier, 'where did you find this?' They say that a British gentleman comes in hauling this in, saying only to sell it to us."

"That's bizarre. You got a name to track him down?"

"Nothing. But, after that, I made it another mission to hunt down anything that made it out of that godforsaken city," Tenenbaum continued. "I have built up my collection over the years." She grabbed a suitcase off of one of the shelves and slowly opened it. "I get this from documentary crew; they were making a special on Rapture, they harassed one of my Little Ones in front of her daughter. Unacceptable. I gave them a good price, and they gave it up no problem."

Cindy cringed when she saw a familiar syringe. "Jesus Christ."

"I am sorry, I know you try to forget." Tenenbaum placed it down and took out a bunny mask. Memories flooded back in of deformed men and women with claws for hands, bulbous tumors, and inhuman screeches. "I want to forget, too.""

"What are you going to do with this junk?"

"The annual auction for the veteran's is coming up next week. The biggest one in the country. All the celebrities go. The theme this year is science fiction; all things out of this world. I have already registered all these things for the auction. People have sick fascination with the underwater city, and I know if Stark sees old piece of technology, he will be attracted like moth to light."

"Who's to say he'll buy it, though?"

"Trust me, he will buy it. Stark is a curious man; he sees technology he has never seen, he must have it. He must tinker with it. I doubt anyone but him could get this thing to work again," she said, pointing to the Vita-Chamber.

"Alright, I'm going to trust you here, but if an evil scientist or something gets a hold of this, I'm holding this on you."

Tenenbaum huffed. "You can do that, but you won't because I will be right." She paused. "Now, help me get this to the auction house."

"What?"

"You heard me, help me get this to auction house!"

Cindy crossed her arms. "Oh, is this why you called me down?"

"I could've explained this all on phone, but I cannot carry this," Tenenbaum replied. "Agent Meltzer, I am ninety-three years old. I cannot carry this on my own, it could kill me! Do you want me to die?"

She rolled her eyes. "No."

"Then, get the Vita-Chamber to the truck I rented! Come on, hurry up!"

Cindy groaned and grabbed the hand truck not too far from the chamber. "Why didn't you call somebody to do this?"

"I do not trust them with this, I'd rather deliver it myself. Besides, I do not like to pay the cost."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, dead serious!" Tenenbaum picked up the suitcase. "After all I have done, the least you could do for me is carry this out. Do you want my fragile bones to break?"

She shook her head. "No, Dr. Tenenbaum. This is really heavy, though-"

Tenenbaum was already making her way out the door. She blew the younger woman a kiss. "I will see you outside. Thank you, dearie!"

Goddamn it, how did it come to this?


Peter's bag is packed for tonight. He's got his suit, some snacks, a change of clothes, and money in case he wants to get some food or maybe go on the rides. He doubts he'll be able to do the latter, but it would be fun to get a quick ride on the Cyclone. Now, all that he had to do was convince, more like beg, May to let him stay out later.

That would be the real challenge.

Could he lie and say someone invited him out? Maybe, but she'd eventually discover the truth and strangle him. May had been hurt that he never told her a thing about his alter-ego, and when he thought back on it, he definitely fucked up. Not telling the truth about that 'Stark internship' was definitely a shitty thing to do.

May always was honest with him, always supported him (she even suffered through the Stark Expo for him), and what did he do? The one thing she hated more than anything. He lied. He'd never forget the look of hurt on her face after she calmed down. What if something had happened to him? God, what if he had died when the warehouse came down on him? Or Toomes' wings sliced him open? She'd have never known what happened to him. That wasn't fair to her. Not after she lost Ben.

He was a shitty nephew.

Peter opened his bedroom door with a sigh and stepped out into the living room. May's sitting on the sofa watching Real Housewives of New York, her guilty pleasure. She lowered the volume as she turned around to face him with a nervous smile.

"Hey, sweetie," she said. "So, you're heading out, huh?"

He nodded. "Yeah, about that… Is it okay if I come back a little later tonight?" He paused when he saw her brows furrow. "It's just for tonight, I promise!"

"Why?"

"Ned and I are doing a stake out at Coney Island," Peter answered, staring at his feet.

"Coney Island?" May frowned. "That's, like, forty-minutes away. What happened to 'friendly neighborhood' Spider-Man who helps little old ladies cross the street and saves kittens from trees?"

"Something kind of came up." He bit his lip and glanced up at his aunt, cringing at her scowl. "There are people in trouble."

"Peter, there are always people in trouble, and as much as I hate to say this, you can't help them all." She put a hand on her hip. "Remember the deal we made."

"I know, May, and thank you so much for putting up with me, but I got to do this or a lot of people are going to get hurt."

"Is it for drugs? Some kids canoodling under the boardwalk?"

Peter tapped his foot. "I mean, it's more like a child kidnapper and possible serial killer. Unless you put that in the same category as canoodlers." He hoped she did.

May moaned and ran a hand through her long hair. "Oh God," she murmured. "Oh, Christ."

"I know it sounds bad, but it's actually not as bad as you think it is."

"Is this about that what happened a couple nights ago when you were at Wildwood?" May asked. "Oh Jesus, you're not going after that thing, are you?"

"The Mariner?" Peter paused. "Wait, how do you know about that?"

"Believe it or not, I don't just use the computer for Solitaire. I use social media, too." She pursed her lips. "Well, just Facebook, but it's all over my feed." She pulled out her phone and opened up the Facebook app. "My one friend is posting about it… Actually, she's not really my friend, but I knew her from my biology class in high school and then she friended me and-"

"I get it, Aunt May." Peter took the phone and frowned at the post on the screen. For someone in their forties, they sure didn't know how to type. Jesus, it was in all caps. It was like she was yelling at him.

PSA: MY HUBBY AND I DECIDED TO CANCEL OUR VACATION TO THE BEACH THIS YEAR GIVEN THE DEMON LURKING ABOUT STEALING THOSE BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRLS I WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO MY BETSEY PRAY2JESUS THAT HE MAY CAST THE DEMONS AWAY AMEN GODBLESS!

Peter's brows raised at another post that accused the Mariner of being a George Soros operative. "Uh…"

"Yeah, she's kind of a conspiracy nut," May said as she grabbed her phone back. "I want to unfriend, but I don't want to make it awkward, but her posts weird me out." She huffed. "I am getting off topic. Trust me, I know about the Mariner. That story has been around for years."

"Really?"

"Since I was a kid, the older kids were making up stories that it was going to come out of the ocean and nab all the little girls. It was my generation's Slenderman" She waved her hand. "My babysitter used to tell me to make me all upset. He was a jerk, and I think he got arrested recently for selling meth."

"I saw it, though!" Peter cried. "I saw it at Wildwood with Ned!"

"Maybe it was just someone dressed up? You know, like the murder clowns?"

He crossed his arms. "I know what I saw! No one believes us!"

"Okay, I believe you." May put a hand on his shoulder. "That news lady, she was a jerk."

"You saw the interview?" Peter murmured.

"Yeah, of course! I was so relieved to see you as Peter Parker and not Spider-Man!"

"If I don't go out and do this, a little girl might be kidnapped." He frowned. "She'll be gone, and no one will hear from her again, and I won't be able to forgive myself for not stepping in when I know I could've helped. Ned tracked the disappearances, they're striking Coney Island tonight."

Aunt May sighed and closed her eyes. "Peter…"

"If something were to happen to me, I know you'd be completely devastated. Imagine how the parents feel." He rubbed his arm sheepishly. "Besides, nothing may actually happen. I could just be yelling at canoodlers all night…"

She looked at him, her mouth in a firm, thin line, and then sighed again. "Alright, fine. You can have your little stakeout with Ned. Just be safe-"

He pulled her into an embrace. "Oh my God, thank you!" he exclaimed, unaware of her grunt of pain. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I promise I'll be back at twelve-thirty-"

"Twelve."

"Twelve? Okay, okay, that works." He's not going to argue with her there. He's lucky he's even being allowed to go out at all. He grinned and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Peter?" May whimpered through gritted teeth. "Peter, you're crushing me."

His eyes widened as he gently pulled away. "Crap, sorry," he rubbed the back of his neck. "Sometimes, I don't know my own strength."

"It's alright, buddy. Have fun." Already he was sprinting out the door. "Don't die!" She called out to him. "Don't make me bury another Parker," she whispered.

"I promise, I won't!" Peter peeked his head into the doorway. "I won't die, I mean. I'll probably have fun because this is Coney Island we're talking about and I might go on the Cyclone but…"

"I got it." May led him out the door but not before tapping her cheek. "Before you go, you gotta give me a kiss."

Peter grinned and pecked her on the cheek. "I larb you!"

"I larb you, too!"

He raced down the hall, no doubt aggravating their neighbors, and after a second, May was alone. She crossed her arms and glanced at the ground, her smile finally dropping. As long as Peter was happy and safe, she wasn't going to deny this from him. This 'Stark internship' brought back a boy she hadn't seen in months; a boy May thought was gone forever, and for that, she wasn't going to kill Tony Stark… for now. If he ever pulled that shit like Leipzig again, he was a dead man.

Oh well, now she had to spend the next six or so hours stressing out, guzzle down a gallon of ice cream and attempt to take her mind off of Peter by watching Real Housewives. It was the only way she kept her sanity anymore.

"I can't believe you got a boob job, you fake ass bitch!"

May smirked at the TV. "Yeah, Janie knock her ass out."

Peter raced down the alleyway by his apartment. Hiding behind a dumpster, he quickly threw off his clothes, shoved them in his bag, and pulled out his suit. He traced the spider logo with his thumbs, barely containing his excitement. This never got old.

"Hey, Peter," Karen's voice comes on the second he puts on the mask. "How's the world's best crime-fighter today?"

"I'm doing good, Karen. I'm all pumped." Peter punched the air while jogging in place. "Let's go, let's do this!"

"Ned's calling," she said as his best friend's face came up in his vision. "You want me to answer?"

"Hell yeah!"

In the upper left corner of his screen was Ned, who was sitting at his computer desk with his headphones on, drinking a bottle of Coke. "Yo, dude, you ready for this?"

"I was born ready, Ned. Question is, are you?"

He slammed his hand down. "I was born for this."

"Hello, Ned," Karen greeted the teenager.

"What's up, Karen! You ready for today?"

"I am an A.I. It's hard for me to feel emotions, but, your excitement is rubbing off on me."

"Hell yeah!" The boys cried in unison just as Peter swung off. "Going to Coney Island, going to kick some ass!"

"Dude, we're going to see the Mariner tonight!"

"And I'm going to kick their ass!"

"Hell yeah!"


A/N: Tony is barely involved with Peter and it makes me so sad. Rhodey's definitely right when it comes to how by inviting him to Leipzig, Tony opened himself to Peter. Come on, dude, Peter worships the ground you walk on! Do things with him!

The compound in Homecoming is so empty. Considering that it's just Rhodey (who's not there full-time), Tony, and Vision, it's probably lonely. I feel like a lot of the employees on the compound are kind of creeped out by Vision, so he's definitely lonely and he's feeling the sucky emotions that come with it. Poor guy. Hopefully, there will be another face roaming about soon.

Tenenbaum is such a sassy little old lady, I love her to death. Seriously, that woman's lived through Nazi Germany and Rapture, what a badass. She's still a genius even with her age.