A/N: Slightly shorter chapter this time...does getting two in the same day make up for it? Love you all to the moon and back! Stay safe!

MJ approached Peter before school began on Monday morning. "Hey, Peter," she said hopefully. Keeping his eyes on the ground, Peter mumbled a greeting.

In a show of almost tangible self-control, MJ kept the nervousness out of her voice as she asked, "So, you wanna talk about...?"

Peter's face remained expressionless. "Talk about what?"

MJ's hopes fell. "You know, what's going on?"

"There's nothing going on," he told her flatly.

"Peter, it's-"

Peter's phone rang. He checked the caller ID: it was Tony. At least it's something to distract MJ, he thought, and answered his phone.

"Hey Mr. Stark, what's up?"

"Not much...hey, kid, look, I was wondering, is everything all right?"

"Yeah of course! I'm totally fine."

"Ahuh...how are things going with the new guy? Robert?"

"Yeah he's great! Real friendly. Nice guy."

Tony paused, unsure of what tack to take next. "Will you come to the Tower again tonight?"

"I'm sorry but I can't, got a lot going on. Um, homework and y'know."

"Homework?" Tony's voice dripped skepticism. "School hasn't even started yet. Look kid...just...I'm always here for you, 'kay? Pep and me, we're just a call away. You're welcome here anytime."

"About that, um...I'm resigning my internship, Mr. Stark."

"Internship? You do know that was just a cover?"

"Yeah, well, I'm not gonna be going back to the Tower anymore."

"Pete-"

Peter cut him off. "I gotta go. Bye, and thanks. Please don't call me back." He hung up the phone before Tony could respond.

MJ grabbed his arm desperately, and a tear dripped down her cheek. "Please, Peter, you're not like you, you're scaring-" her voice broke.

Peter didn't meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, M." He pulled his arm away and pushed past her.

As Peter struggled through the day, he berated himself for shutting MJ out. His only remaining ally. He'd lost May, Karen, and Tony. Ned had already given up, when faced with Peter's coldness. Now MJ was gone too...why? He closed his eyes. Why am I like this? Why can't I just be normal, and have friends? Why do I have to shut everyone out instead of getting help?

I'm hardwired to self-destruct. A lone tear slipped out of the corner of his eye.

Peter trudged into the apartment after school, too broken to care what Robert had in store for him today. He managed to make it to his bedroom before Robert intercepted him. He aimed a blow at Peter's jaw, and was about to strike again when Peter said the unthinkable.

"I hate you."

In the ensuing moment of silence, Peter knew he'd crossed the line. Robert remained perfectly still for a moment, and then Peter was on the floor. His heavy boot slammed down on Peter's hand. He brought it up and smashed it down again, over and over, crushing the bones. Peter couldn't even choke out a scream. Peter leaned over and retched on the floor, sick with the pain. He cradled his mangled hand against his chest and rocked back and forth, refusing to let his tears fall.

Robert stared down at him contemptuously. "Don't you ever say that again."

Suddenly, a glint of light caught Robert's eye. Before Peter could get to it, his hands had claimed Peter's fallen pocketknife.

"Well well well, what have we here?" he asked slowly, turning it over in his hands. "Planning to hurt me, were you?" He cuffed Peter over the head. Peter didn't even notice the pain as he begged in panic, "No, please don't take it, I wasn't going to-"

Paying Peter no heed, Robert turned to leave the room with the knife.

"Please, please I need that, you don't understand-" his screams grew hysterical as Robert slammed and locked the door, taking with him Peter's only chance of ever being enough. He couldn't breathe, the voices were so loud, so loud, he couldn't think, need to breathe need to breathe need to breathe-

He smashed through the window and grabbed a piece of glass. Desperately he slashed at his arm, begging for any kind of relief, anything at all to stop the pain.