Hey guys... So this is a little bit late and I'm so sorry! Life got crazy around the holidays then with work. But here is the final chapter! I unfortunately have no plans for a sequel, so this will be it.
Please enjoy and thank you for reading!
I smell the scent of hospital. The cleanliness, the sterilized instruments and the movement of a nurse around me. Checking the wires and whatnot. I try to open my eyes, but they feel too heavy. Like someone is holding them down. I try to move my hands and feet, but they also feel like they are being weighed down by something. Before I can try to do much more, I drift back into the darkness.
The next time I feel conscious, it's different. I feel more than I did, including pain. It's not pleasant but it's manageable. Opening my eyes seemed difficult still, but moving my hand was easier. As soon as I moved it something grabbed it firmly. Then a buzzing sound started. Then I felt something swipe my head softly. I focused on the buzzing, trying to determine where it was coming from.
"… Peter, please, I need you to wake up." A sniffle. "I-I can't lose you, I just got you back" I know that voice. Why do they sound sad? That voice is always confident, not sad and emotional. Now, who is that voice?
"Dad?" I mumble, thinking I finally figured out who was talking.
"Kid?" I try to open my eye but they are unwilling.
"Why do you sound like that?" I mumble, my words still not sounding right.
"Because your hurt Pete. And, and I wasn't sure if you were going to recover."
"I'm fine."
"No you are not. But that's okay. You'll get better. Now how about you open your eyes bud?"
"Can't. Too heavy"
"What does that even mean?"
"That my eyes are to heavy."
"How about I call Cho and she can…"
The next time I wake up, everything isn't as heavy and weird. It's definitely not how it should be, but I can open my eyes. I look around the room and see Tony and Pepper curled on the couch together. It was cute.
The door opened and I look over to see Cho.
"Hello Peter. How are you feeling?"
"Uh, better I think. I'm not really sure what the problem was to begin with?"
"Well how it happened is a mystery to all of us, you'll have to fill us in but the injuries were the worst I've seen on you yet. You had a decent amount of internal bleeding and four broken ribs. The rest is cosmetic scratches and bruising. Nothing to worry about. They look worse than they are. You will definitely be sore for a few days, but you will recover nicely."
"Oh, uh thanks?"
"No problem. Although I understand that you are a vigilante, please keep the injuries to a minimum. You've been my only patient in the past few months." She looks at me pointedly. "Now, I'm just going to check the incision wound and I'll be out of your way." She smiled and took the bandage on my abdomen off. It looks disgusting. I had to look away as she cleaned it. Okay this looks good. I'll get a nurse to bring you food, you need to eat extra with that metabolism of yours." And with that she left. I looked back to Tony and Pepper and see they are still sleeping.
The door opens again, revealing a young man in light blue scrubs, holding a plate full of food.
"Dr. Cho said you should eat as much as you can. Here is some water. I'll be back later to check on you." He smiled and left. I looked down at my plate and saw a variety of things: Broccoli, carrots, peas, mashed potatoes, and a large piece of chicken.
I start eating slowly, enjoying the food. The male nurse checked on me about fifteen minutes to make sure I was eating, but he left me alone after that.
"Peter?" I look over and see Tony and Pepper looking at me.
"Hey guys."
"When did you wake up? Why didn't you wake me up?" Tony stands up and walks to the chair next to my bed.
"It's okay, I've just been eating. No need to wake anyone up. Cho also said I was doing better. And I feel better."
"Sweetie, we are just glad you are okay" Pepper smiled at me.
"Ya kid, the past twelve hours have been brutal."
"Wait, it's only Saturday?" I ask.
"Yep. It's noon. Why do you ask?"
"I just thought that you might have to tell May if it was later but I should be good by then. I think. I can't tell May about Spider-Man, she would flip!" I rush out, starting to panic at the thought of her knowing.
"Relax kid. All is good. I can give you a fake illness for Monday so you should be good then." Relief flows through me.
"Thanks dad. You're awesome." I smile and go back to my food. Tony coughed a bit and I look over and he has unshed tears in his eyes. He looks happy though, so that's odd.
"I love you kid."
"Love you too."
Throughout the weekend and Monday, all the Avengers visit me, making sure I'm okay. They also keep me company and play games so I don't go crazy laying in a bed. Sunday night Cho released me, but I'm still under strict orders to not do any physical activities. So I had to lounge around Monday as well but, at least it wasn't the med bay.
Monday afternoon on our way to May's, she called saying she had the same flu I had, and told Tony to keep me one more night. Well, I never had the flu, but Tony told her I did. He kept me home on Tuesday, just in case. I felt better. Sure I had the bruises and stuff but my ribs didn't hurt unless I did something stupid and my incision is a little pink line now. But Tony insisted.
Then I went to school on Wednesday. I have a note to excuse me from gym, but besides that, it will be a normal day. And the morning was great. I caught up with Ned and MJ, got my few assignments and stuff that I missed the past two days.
On my way to lunch, I see her, Liz Allen. She is with her mom and the principal, walking down the empty hallway. One of her friends went up and hugged her, then scurried away. I make my way over there and hesitate.
"Hey Liz" I smile a little at her. She stops and walks over to me.
"Peter."
"I- I'm uh sorry. For leaving you. At the dance."
"It was a pretty shitty move Peter. But it's okay. The dance is the least of my worries right now."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm moving. To Oregon. My dad doesn't want me and my mom here during the trial."
"I'm sorry"
"Not your fault Peter. I have to go though. So, I hope you figure out whatever it is that you need to figure out." She kisses me on the cheek and walks to her mom. I stand there for a moment, stunned at what just happened.
When taking down the vulture, I never even thought about what would happen to Liz. Sure I was never her biggest fan, but she was nice. And she had a life here. I can't imagine having to uproot right before senior year. Well at all really, but especially for senior year.
I head to the cafeteria so I can one eat, and two talk to Ned and MJ about something. Something that has been bothering me all weekend. I grab some pizza and an apple and sit down next to them.
"What took you so long loser?" MJ keeps reading her book.
"I ran into Liz. I apologized about the dance." I mumble.
"Oh. I heard she was moving or something because of her dad?" She asked, still not looking at me.
"Yes, to Oregon."
"That sucks. If that happened to me I would die. I would not be able to make friends." Ned sighed.
"That's not true. You're a great friend Ned."
"Sure, but I'm a total nerd."
"So you'd have to find other nerds." MJ smiled a little.
"Guys can I talk to you for a minute? I want your opinion on something" The both look at me.
"Of course loser. Go ahead."
"Okay, so um. Well, this weekend with my dad has been odd. And I know I was uh, sick, but he kept looking at me weirdly, but in a good way? Like he'd be smiling and look happy, but he'd wither have a weird look on his face or he would almost be crying. And my dad doesn't cry like ever, but this weekend it was almost all the time and I am worried." Ned and MJ look at each other for a second before looking at me.
"So, I'll ask one question first. When did you start calling Tony, dad?" MJ looked at me. What does she mean?
"I call him Tony still?" I say, but it sounds like a question.
"Dude, you literally said dad twice when explaining to us." Ned huffed out.
"I did?"
"Yes." I think back towards the weekend. Have I been calling him dad and not realizing it? Holy shit! "Oh, Ned I think he realized that he has been calling him dad. " MJ whispered.
"How did I do that? Like without realizing! I should have talked to Tony about this before. Maybe he doesn't want to be called that! Shit, I don't know what to do." My breathing starts getting a little erratic.
"Hey, calm down Peter. They way you described it I think he loves it. And he is responding to it, so I think you are in the clear." MJ explained quickly, calming me down a bit.
"Ya, okay. Maybe he doesn't mind."
"Hey Happy! Not to sound rude but why are you here? It's May's weekend with me" I ask nicely. I don't want Happy thinking I don't appreciate him, because I do, but this is odd.
"Tony said May called. Something about having to do a few double shifts this weekend to make up hours missed from being sick?" He explained hesitantly as if he was a little unclear himself.
"Oh, uh okay." I mumble getting in the car. I haven't seen Tony since I realized I started calling him dad. And honestly, I'm a little scared. Should I continue? Or should I pretend I never started? The past few days both Ned and MJ have been telling me it is fine, but do what I want to do, not what I think other people want me to do. And I still haven't decided.
We pull up to the tower and I thank Happy before running up to the penthouse. I go to my room and throw my bag on the bed and grab my homework. I sit at my desk for a bit doing my homework, that way I do not have to worry about it over the weekend.
I hear a knock at my door, and I call out to come in. I look over and I see Tony holding a plate.
"Hey what's up?" I ask.
"Nothing much kiddo. You just kind of ran past Pepper and I so I wanted to make sure you were okay?" He asked and before I could respond he continued. "And I made you a sandwich cause I assumed you'd be hungry. So everything is okay?"
"Um, yep. I just wanted to finish my homework so I don't have to think about it all weekend. But I just finished. And thanks dad, this looks good." I grab the plate from him and freeze for a second. I just called him dad. I didn't have the chance to think about it, it just came out.
"Sure, eat it out in the kitchen so Pep and I can ask you about your week." He smiled and put his arm around my shoulder and lead me into the kitchen.
"Kid stop bouncing, Dr. Cho will be here soon." Dad laughed.
"I'm excited. I haven't been on a regular patrol in literal months. I want to go back to that." I whined, not being able to stop myself from acting like a literal five year old.
"Well, you know my deal for the first week of patrols when you get cleared."
"I know. And I think it will be fun. And she cleared me two weeks ago to attend gym class. So I think she will clear me now." I look at him.
"Good afternoon Peter and Tony. Good to see you are looking better." She smiled.
"And I am feeling better. Like really good."
"Someone is excited to be fully cleared for physical activity." She looked at me. She looked over the non existent incision marks and prodded my abdomen to see if there was any pain with the pressure. But I am fine. Completely recovered. So now, I get to go patrolling. Well after dinner. And for two hours only. But it is something.
We go upstairs and I pull out my homework, seeing as the first thing I wanted to do was get cleared for Spider-Man. So dad ordered us pizza while I started my homework. He then started helping me even though I didn't need help. He then started pointing out how easy all these things are. It was pretty fun.
After dinner I could no longer wait and I ran to my room and changed into the suit. I am so excited for tonight. And all the patrols this week. I walk into the living room and announce that I am ready. Pepper smiles at me and gives me a hug. She then kisses dad on the cheek.
"You two have fun and be safe!" Dad puts his suit on and looks at me, waiting for me to lead the way. I run and jump off the building, webbing to the next one until we reach Queens and I sit on one of my regular roof tops.
"Is this what you call patrolling kid?" Dad's faceplate flips up.
"I'm waiting for something to happen. Karen will alert me to anything the police have been called for and I can hear almost everything in a three-block radius." I explain.
"Okay. So we wait until-" Sirens blare out a few streets over and I'm off. I look towards what the commotion is and it appears to be a high speed police chase. I web and take a quick detour to catch up to the criminals. I take a sharp right and land on the roof of the truck.
"Excuse me! You think you'd wanna pull over maybe? You are breaking so many traffic laws!" I yell over the noise.
"Spider-Man! I thought you were dead." The driver grunts out.
"Nope. Not dead, just unavailable. You know who else is unavailable? You, when you're in jail!" I knock the guy out and hold the wheel, so we don't lose control. I web the break pedal, stopping the truck from doing any more damage. I web the criminals up so they can't get away. I see Iron Man hovering near the truck, but he never stepped in.
I go up to a nearby rooftop and sit to catch my breath.
"You good kid?"
"Ya, just need a quick break. I forgot how much work this is."
"Well that was pretty good what you did just now. I didn't even have to step in or anything. Good job."
"Thanks. Now, how about we double team the next one. I think it will be fun." I smile and stand up.
"Sure kid."
"Cool, because there is an ongoing robbery two street to the north." I announce and web my way over there.
"Hey so May, I had practice today and Mr. Harrington announced that the next meet is at Midtown. And I wanted to know if you wanted to go?" I asked, hopeful.
"Oh I would love to but I'll have to see if I can get the day off. When is it?"
"It's next Friday at seven."
"I am so sorry sweetie but they want me back out in Scranton again. But I promise to go to the one after that!" I nod.
"It's okay May. I understand."
"Thank you honey, you are the best. Now, I'm sure if you asked Tony and maybe Pepper that they might be able to go" I shrug my shoulders.
"They are pretty busy too, I'm not sure. Maybe, I'll ask." I mumble, a little disappointed that May can't go.
"I know they are but maybe they won't be that night. But I'll tell you what I can do, a movie night this Thursday when you get back from Tony's! I have the five AM shift tomorrow so I have to go to bed now, but Thursday I'll get all the snacks, we can order Thai and we can watch any movie you want to. It'll be fun!"
"Okay May, that sounds like fun." I hug her and wish her a good night. I go to my room and jump out the window to get a quick patrol in before bed.
I take the elevator up to the penthouse. I do my normal routine and make a sandwich, then eat it in my room while I do my homework. I then scroll through Spider-Man fan accounts on Twitter to see what is being said about me. At about four thirty, Pepper and Dad are usually done meeting and other work things and make their way up here. Sometimes it is a little later. Today was not one of those days.
I am still debating whether or not I should ask them about the decathlon meet.
"Hew Peter, how is school this week?" Pepper smiles at me and gives me a hug.
"Good. One of my teachers is sick so the class is like a free block right now. Ned and I talked Star Wars theories."
"Sounds fun. Did you get your homework done kid?"
"Yes I just finished it dad."
"Great, I'm thinking movie night? You guys on board with that?" Pepper and I both nod.
After everyone gets comfortable clothes on, and dinner is delivered, we start up a movie. During the second movie we put on, my mind started drifting. I think I should just leave the decathlon meet alone. I don't want to make them feel guilty for not going like May does. They are busy and I get that.
"Kid what are you thinking about over there?" I realize that they are both looking at me and that the movie is paused.
"Uh, nothing. All is good." I mumble out, not convincing them at all.
"Nuh uh. Try again."
"Okay fine. Well, I don't want to tell you guys because I don't want you to feel like you have to go. Or if you are too busy and you can't go, I don't want you to feel guilty. But next Friday night, I have a decathlon meet at my school, and I want to know if you guys want to go? May can't because she's in Scranton again, and now she feels bad, but I don't want you guys to feel that way! I completely understand that you guys are busy and can't go." I ramble.
"Who said we can't go?" Pepper asked softly.
"Well no one. But you guys run a company and I assume that it is busy at work." I shrug.
"Kiddo, we will both be there. We will sit in the front and we will yell the loudest when you get a nerdy question right and out nerd the other nerds. I'll always go and make time for events like this kid. Because I'd do anything for you. Because, you're my kid."