Peter put a plate of loaded nachos on the table slid into the booth across from Bobby. The Odyssey had quickly become their favorite hangout. It was a dive bar at best, but it had pool tables, classic video games, and decent bar food. A couple other people from labs and classes joined them on occasion, some enjoying the fact that it was an actual bar a little too much. Peter realized that he could easily order any drink he wanted, but with his metabolism it would be like throwing money down the drain and old habits died hard. Plus, he was pretty sure he had inherited his dad's issues with substance abuse. After the accident it was one of the things they had talked about while they were at Clint's cabin. Peter hadn't turned to pain killers but his desire to escape meant all of the underlying psychological reasons were there. When they found out that Tony was biologically his father, all of Peter's coping mechanisms started making a lot more sense.
"Are you ready for your physics test next week?" Bobby asked as Peter settled into the booth.
Peter nodded and took a sip of his lemonade. Unlike some of the other places students chose to hang out, the Odyssey did not play obnoxiously loud music which meant that Peter didn't struggle with everything being too loud. "We haven't gotten to anything I haven't done before. How about your trig test?"
Before Bobby could answer a group walked over to their booth and squeezed in next to them. "Please tell me you two aren't talking about school. It's officially the weekend." The girl that had slid into the booth next to Bobby looked across at Peter. "Plus, you both have the highest grades in the classes I have with you. You need to give the rest of us a chance."
Peter smiled across the table. "Gwen, you don't need anyone's help. We all know you're holding your own."
She shrugged, "Still, it would be nice to have the top score on a test. We're halfway through the first semester and that hasn't happened yet." She reached. over and grabbed one of Bobby's mozzarella sticks and took a bite.
"Don't hold your breath Gwen. I had to go up against Midtown for Academic Decathlon in high school. They crushed it every time. The boy knows his science." The boy slid into the booth next to Peter, pushing him over to make room.
"Wyatt, it's not like we won all of our meets." Peter looked over at the newcomer.
Wyatt picked in his beer and took a sip. "You all went to Nationals three years in a row."
"We're going to play pool, anyone want to come?" The rest of the group looked down at the foursome. "Gwen, you owe us a rematch."
Shrugging she stood up. "Only if you want to be beat by a girl again." She looked over at Peter and winked. "Save me some nachos."
Wyatt picked up his beer and stood to follow. "I better make sure Johnny doesn't loose too much money. Gwen beats him every time they play."
Bobby and Peter watched the group descend on the pool tables. "You sure you don't want to play?"
Peter shook his head. "I hate having to act like I can't make every shot. It's like golf. If I make every shot people ask me to many questions. Plus, I'm starving."
"If Pepper finds out all you're eating is bar food we'll end up with a live in chef." Bobby reached over and grabbed a nacho off of Peter's plate.
"Then we need to make sure she doesn't fine out." Peter grinned as he shoved another nacho into his mouth.
Peter had found himself actually enjoying hanging out with this group. He had Ned had been pegged as nerds at an early age and it had stuck all the way through school. Even at what would be considered a 'nerd school' they were still in a different category that most definitely wasn't the cool group. Here, it was different. Maybe it was because no one really had an established group of friends. It was like everyone was starting over and reestablishing their 'groups'.
He was immensely grateful Bobby was his roommate. Having someone who knew who he was made him less self conscious. Before Ned had found out he had felt isolated. There was a huge part of his life that he had to keep hidden. Now, when they were at home he could walk on the ceiling without freaking anyone out. He knew Bobby felt the same relief at not having to hide his powers all the time.
Bobby was also a great person to vent to when he got frustrated at not being able to go out as Spider-Man. Bobby could be blunt but at times that was exactly what Peter needed. His dad and Ned were both almost too sympathetic. Bobby would tell him to suck it up and then pull Peter into their gym at home and make him train. It was something else he was really glad his dad had put in when he bought the house. Peter thought he was going overboard but Tony knew Peter would have to have a way to burn off excess energy if he wasn't Spider-Manning every night. It also turned out that Peter had picked up quite a few things from Natasha and Steve over the last couple years. Things that benefited Bobby tremendously. Professor Xavier and the rest of the mutants at the school had focused on training him to use his powers, but hadn't focused as much on how to actually fight. So that's what Peter and Bobby did. They had actually found quite a few ways to use their powers together, even thought they weren't sure when he would actually need to.
Peter was leaning against the wall watching Gwen destroy everyone at pool when the familiar tingle started. He turned us attention towards the back of the room. His Spidey sense was going off but not in the normal 'you're about to get hurt' way. He glanced around and saw a couple guys walking out the back door. Knowing it led to an alley, he stood up and headed in that direction. Gently pushing the door open he stepped out into the dimly lit area. The guys he had seen leaving had made their way to the far end of the alley and had girl cornered against the wall. As the Iron Spider suit formed around him he felt a change in temperature behind him.
"What? I'm backup."
Peter turned away from Bobby, who had transformed into his ice form and started towards the group. "You probably should leave her alone." His voice drew the attention of the group.
The group turned to look at where the voice had come from. "It's a little early for trick or treat."
"That's Spider-Man." One of the group nudged the leader.
"Who?" The leader eyed Spider-Man and Iceman. "They just look like freaks to me." He turned back to his prey when a dagger of ice embedded in the wall next to his head.
"Not freaks." Iceman gestured to himself. "Mutant." Then he tilted his head towards Spider-Man. "But he's on a whole other level."
Peter saw a glint of a steel knife in the leaders hand. "Ok...I'm done." He flipped his wrist and yanked the knife out of the man's hand. "Didn't your mother tell you knives are dangerous?"
The action was enough for the guys to move away from the girl, allowing her to escape. Peter focused on the group in front of him. "You need to go home."
The leader charged Peter which spurred the rest of them to attack as well. Peter easily flipped over the leaders attack. He heard him smack into Bobby and crumple into an unconscious lump on the ground. Peter flung his wrists and webbed up two of the guys, leaving two remaining. Seeing the state of their friends they took off running out of the alley.
"Karen, check for cameras." Peter looked around the alley himself. He knew there was one on the back of the building but he also knew he and Bobby had 'suited up' out of frame.
"Three cameras active. All caught the incident, none would have been able to identify you or Mr. Drake."
"Cool." He looked back at Bobby. "You good?" Bobby nodded and they both retreated back to the camera's blind spot to transform.