Chapter Fourteen

In which shit gets real*

Shortly after Peter's swan dive

Peter enjoyed the rush of adrenaline that web-slinging always brought, he'd been at this for many years... But hell the first few seconds of just falling before letting a web-line loose was amazing.

Sometimes he wished that he could give up being Peter Parker and just be Spider-man all the time. Sometimes he thought what did he really have in his "normal" life. He wasn't going so great at school, (due to all the absences), his job (the job that he used to love) was ruined by Tony-motherfucking-Stark, he had no money, no girlfriend, no Tony...

But it was impractical to be Spider-man all the time anyway, he had to get money and saving people as New York's most hated vigilante didn't pay well.

In that it didn't.

Besides like his uncle always said with great power must also come great responsibility, and that ran both ways. He had a responsibility to Aunt May, she relied on him as he relied on her. Besides she would worry herself into the grave if he ever disappeared, and he couldn't have the deaths of both the people who raised him on his conscience.

It was bad enough that he failed Uncle Ben, he couldn't let himself fail her as well.

All of this raced through his mind as he released the next bundle of webbing, connecting firmly to the top of a nearby building.

He swung neatly along, on his way home.

As he swung he tried not to think about what had happened next to Bruce. How and why he had jumped away from Tony-motherfucking-Stark.

Yeah I wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone, let alone that guy but what was with that Caufield comment. As if he'd get it, only one other person would get that and...

Peter forcefully stopped that particular train of thought, it wasn't helpful. The next swing was more jilted as he suddenly remembered that he'd left his camera and study noted back at the office.

He needed those for school tomorrow, if he wanted to get any studying done and therefore not fail he had to make a quick detour...

Damn, knowing his luck Tony-motherfucking-Stark would probably be there with a team of scantily clad super models. Just to rub in the fact that asking nerdy old Peter Parker was just a joke.

Stark International was just in front of him and with one final up-swing he settled on the roof-edge of his work place. Sitting there for a few seconds, he quietly prayed that for once the Parker luck would be looking the other way.

But when was it ever, it was paying close attention when he let that robber go, when Captain Stacey died, when Gwen left him for Harry.

Except this time it wasn't Parker luck that screwed up his life (or at least made it awkward) it was good old Peter Parker stupidity. Gwen being interested in him was the exception in the rest of his non-existent dating life. Why would he expect Tony-motherfucking-Stark to actually like him...

Fingers stuck to brick, steel and glass as Peter climbed down to the alley next to Stark International. Changing quickly he was let into the building by the night guard, saying he'd left behind some of his belongings.

Fetching them took only a few moments, but when he got back into the elevator the exhaustion over the past few days hit him.

He'd had new super powered crims crawling out of the woodwork, such as Molten Man and The Spot. As well as Doctor Octopus, The Rhino and Kraven.

Peter was bushed, and right now the floor was looking mighty comfortable. It would be silly to lie down and have a quick nap, so he compromised and crouched up against the wall. He wasn't sleeping he was just resting his eyes for a little while.

After what seemed like a few seconds, he felt something-or-other touch his head gently.

Peter's spider-sense didn't flare so he knew it wasn't a threat, but he was interested in knowing who thought it was a good idea to casually grope his head...while he was sleeping.

That was creepy right? He thought, opening his eyes blearily he saw Tony-motherfucking-Stark walking towards the doors for the R&D Department.

On a whim he decided that it was time that shit got real, and he had better confront his bosses, bosses, bosses, boss.

Shaky, tired legs propelled him slowly to the doorway to R&D, he stood just on the outside of the door frame. Working up the courage to give Tony-motherfucking-Stark a piece of his mind, but then he stopped himself.

If he took the time to yell at every person that ever screwed him over, he wouldn't have the time to do anything else. His entire life wasn't screwed over by Stark, sure it didn't make it any easier but it wasn't his fault.

Whatever reasons he asked Peter out where his problems not Peter's and he had to stop feeling sorry for himself.

His life had always been difficult, but as Aunt May had said "we've been through the fire before but although we may have been singed, we've never been burned".

Peter had to take responsibility for his own life and stop blaming his problems on others.

Slowly he turned around and made his way to the elevator.

Besides he had to go home and study, he had a test tomorrow.

AN: Because although he likes Tony Stark his entire life does not revolve around him, and just because he's somewhat "weaker" and more "feminine" than Stark doesn't mean he has to be a whiny, needy bitch. "nuff said.

*it gets real in self-confidence and the realisation that ever though you can love someone they don't determine your entire world and personality.