Author's Note: I don't any of these characters or Marvel. Thanks for the positive responses :)
Chapter 3 - Special Guest
Idiot. He sat on his bed with his hands cradling his head. He had returned home earlier that day to an empty house. He gone through several phases: shock, admiration, fear, and finally criticism.
You could have talked it over. His hands let go of his head moving to grip the bed frame. He didn't care that the metal bent under his fingers, maybe he just didn't notice. He was extremely preoccupied with self reflection.
Peter had originally been shocked at meeting some of his heroes. The ones he had grown up watching on tv. The ones who were the reason Queens and the rest of New York even existed.
Then the admiration of them set in, particularly for Ironman. I got to touch one of the suits! He had thought. His idols had been in the same room as him talking to him.
Then the crippling fear set in. The realization that he was being hunted by the people who stopped several crises before noon. It was a big step up from when homework and exams were his biggest fears. Captain America trying to kidnap him was worse than his chemistry homework. Just a little bit though, because well… Stoichiometry. He grimaced at the thought.
His mind flashed back to the bank. He had been given a chance to defuse a ticking bomb of a situation, but left it to explode. He had ran and he doubted that he'd be given another chance to talk like he had been. Hence his self criticism. I've made this so much worse.
His reflection was broken by the sound of yodeling. He released the bed frame now very aware of the dent in it. No idea how I'll explain that. He thought hiding it with his comforter. The ring tone continued to blare through the room. He snatched it off the bedside table.
"Hey Ned." He called out.
"Are you still going to the field trip tomorrow, Peter?" A sprinkle of hope could be heard in Ned's voice. It was small like a leak in dam, yet it had the opportunity to become a waterfall. Peter had already decided going out again so soon would be a bad idea. He'd also feel bad at flaking on Ned again.
"Yea I'm going." He replied unable to not smile at the sound of his friends growing excitement.
"Awesome, I'll tell MJ." The dam had been broken. He could imagine Ned's smile. A smile that reached the eyes causing them to crinkle in a way that only a truly genuine one could. Very similar to how Peter was smiling at that very moment.
"I have so much to tell you on the bus tomorrow."
"Good." Ned responded. "It'll be a long bus ride."
It most definitely would be. They were driving an hour out of the way to head to a convention for people apart decathlon teams. Even though it was the weekend, it seemed Peter would be getting a taste of the lives for those of whom worshiped early bird specials, as he had to wake up at 5 tomorrow.
He checked the clock. 12:34. So today tecniqually. He groaned out loud. So much for a refreshing night. He put his head against the pillow closing his eyes. He hoped that Ned wasn't too interested in his day, maybe he could rest on the bus.
His remembered memories of chatting with his best friend on the bus. Yeah, so no. Still could it hurt to dream? Hopefully it would be worth the early morning and long ride. The people hosting it had apparently hired an exciting speaker.
"I thought you never missed." Tony grumbled beside Clint. "What ever happened to that?"
Clint looked at him face in mock offense. "I did not miss! The spider kid caught it." He grinned. "At least I wasn't webbed up."
Tony sped up ignoring the archer's bait, although he was tempted. Instead he walked beside Natasha. Steve had left earlier that day as he had business to attend to. Natasha looked thoughtful, it was hard to tell with her though. She could have been just as easily planning his murder.
"Has Steve gotten any closer to remembering his face?" She asked.
He shook his head. "Nope, I think his memories going." He gave her a lopsided smile that she did not reciprocate.
She stared straight ahead. "I don't think that's it."
They reached the door to the compound. She didn't offer him a chance to question her as she sped ahead leaving him and Clint in the dust. He turned to Clint quirking his eyebrows questionly.
Shoulders were raised on his behalf paired with an expression of don't ask me painted across his face. "I'm leaving early today." He leaned against the doorway. "Promised my kids we'd have a Disney marathon." He tapped his forehead in thought. "Maybe you can trap the kid with Disney, use it as bait."
Tony rubbed his temples. "Clint." He shook his head in disappointment. "Thats stupid." He paused for a moment a small smirk gracing his face. "I think instead we do the box with a stick and a string. He'd never see it coming."
"Perfect, it'd have to be a big box though" The man gave a brief goodbye before leaving Tony all alone to create an actual feasible plan.
This kid was really getting on his nerves. He didn't want to hurt Spiderman if he didn't have to. Ugh why did he have to run. Hr questioned as he made his way into the living room, he then slumped against the first sofa he found. "This is why no one likes spiders, they're so irritating."
"Then I caught the arrow!" He told Ned who looked shocked.
"Dude, that did not happen." His eyes were wide and absorbed in Peter's story, "What happened after that?"
Peter looked over the seats of the bus. "Nothing really, I Just kinda went home." He was thankful that everyone seemed preoccupied, talking with friends, reading, and -much to Peter's jealousy- sleeping.
Ned's shoulders deflated like a balloon left in a cold room. "That's kinda anti-climatic." Peter offered an apologizing smile.
The sun was low in the sky. Peter's bus ride had gone as he expected. Smiles were given, laughs were exhaled, and sleep was left a thought in the past.
The bus was an older one that had a faulty heating system causing the bus to be broiling to the point he felt like bacon on a griddle. The bus had become piled with tossed aside yellow jackets. Several students were sticking their heads out the window desperate for the relief of cold morning air.
He checked his watch. They'd be arriving fairly soon. As if on cue the image of large city came into focus in the distance. Even a city can make a more dramatic entrance that me.
When Peter had been telling Ned the story he had been careful to portray it in a certain way. After all who wanted to hear the knitty gritty details when he could just simply bring up webbing Ironman to the ground.
Ned punched his arm. "This is so cool, Peter."
MJ had gotten out of her seat walking over to them. "It's just a city." She took the seat across from theirs, placing her feet onto the chair taking up all the space. Her eyes scanned Peter, inquiring about him without saying a word.
He felt that if anyone besides Ned were to ever figure out his secrete it would be her. She was observant to the point it scared Peter. He heart started beating. What if she heard my story. The rational side of Peter knew this was highly unlikely considering he had been so quiet that Ned could barely hear. Still his heart did rest until her eyes returned to her book.
Ned shrugged eyes jumping between Peter and MJ. "I like cities." He declared.
Said city was approaching quickly. The skyscrapers would have been impressive, if Peter had not grown accustomed to them in New York. Compared to New York this city was merely a suburb.
Metaphorically of course. Peter had grown to despise suburbs. They made it hard for him to web sling. He didn't despise this city, in fact, he thought it was rather pretty. The glass was clean and the metal was shinny.
Students who had been preoccupied had joined those who had been sticking their heads out of the windows. Majority of them wide eyed except for the few who looked uninterested. MJ was one of them, obviously.
It didn't take long for the bus to pull up at their destination. He got off quickly and waited by the door for Ned. Flash got off before Ned, making a point to inconspicuously shove Peter as he went.
Ned was quick to join Peter and they began to walk towards the door. The door was imposing, towering over both of them. Oddly enough it reminded Peter of Steve back on the rooftop.
They were directed to a large banquet room. Tables were stuffed into the room. Chairs leaning against other chairs. Whoever had booked it must have underestimated those apart of decathlon teams.
His team tried their best to arrive to their table without knocking into anyone. Unfortunately for the people in their path they were not successful. Chairs were walked into, tabled bumped, and people crashed into. Finally they reached their table.
Luckily enough they were close to the stage, only three tables away. He took a seat between MJ and Ned that was facing forward. MJ was taking up some of his table space on the circular table with her elbows as she read.
After all teams got seated it began fairly quickly. The first few speakers spoke about how they were so proud that the youth were interested in their education. All the general stuff. He was beginning to regret this trip. The boiling bus had been more fun than this banquet.
A man came up to the mike in a suit and tie. His tie was brightly patterned. It was red with blue dots that made it stick out against his colorless grey suit. He tapped the mike catching the attention of those having side conversations.
"Our guest speaker is about to come on." The man grinned knowing something they didn't. "I'm sure you'll all be very excited at who we have booked." He walked away from the mike leaving the crowd in suspense.
His effect hadn't been major. Despite being left in suspense no one seemed actually interested in the next speaker. Considering who had already come on they had good reason to not get their hopes up.
When the man walked out the tone in the room switched. People who seemed on the brink of sleep were wide awake and clapping. The man had not lied, the entire room was very excited.
Except for Peter
Peter had choked on his water. The man picked up the mike with a classic smile. "Hello, I'm Steve Rogers, or as most of you know me, Captain America." Peter was nudged by Ned who was looking at him worriedly.
It only continued to go downhill, as Captain America who was grinning at his audience was trying to make eye contact with as many people as he could. He locked eyes with Peter, and he saw a shift in the man. The smile broke for a brief second that only he could notice. Well him and maybe MJ. He stared at Peter for a moment before he continued speaking. Peter noticed that the man's blue eyes kept returning to him. Only one thought was going through his mind on repeat.
He knows.
