Chapter 31

That morning, Peter dragged his way downstairs with his backpack over his shoulder. His whole body screaming and crying out in agony and exhaustion. He could feel his senses were on the verge of another Sensory Overload. Today was going to royally suck.

He made his way into the kitchen, a little surprised to see May and Happy sitting at the dining table in silence.

"Morning." Peter mumbled and then froze his spider senses going haywire; "Is...something wrong?"

"That's what I'd like to know Peter." May snapped before slamming Peter's failed test on the table.

Peter froze, his eyes widening as he looked at it and then at May's glowering face, and Happy's disappointed face.

"Where...where did you get that?" Peter asked dropping his backpack and rifling through it; "Did you...you went through my bag?"

"I had a very interesting email from your history teacher and your principal this morning, so yes I went through your bag. How could you hide this from me Peter? Did you not think I'd find out?" She narrowed her eyes at him; "What is this Peter! An F?! Your teachers are saying you've been falling asleep in class, you're distracted. What the hell is going on?"

"It's nothing." Peter mumbled looking away, wishing he could escape right now. His heart rate was picking up. Everything was suddenly getting a lot louder, it was like nails down a chalkboard, and his skin was itching all over.

"Don't lie to me Peter!" May barked making him flinch; "You made a promise to me. You wouldn't let Spider Man affect your studies. That was our deal."

"I...I haven't."

"Then how do you explain this?" She jabbed at the paper angrily; "Because an F is just not acceptable. There is no excuse for this!"

"I've just been staying up late studying and I guess I was a little off that day." Peter said quickly shrugging; "Mr Grossman said I could resit it next week. It will be fine."

May just looked at him a hurt look on her face; "This is not fine Peter! And you really expect me to believe you were up late studying? Now you're lying to me!"

"Peter we know you've been out late as Spider Man. Tony gave us access to your suit data. You were even out late last night."

"You've been spying on me?" Peter glared; "It's not even any of your business." Peter snapped at Happy. Feeling instantly guilty at seeing the hurt on his face.

"PETER BENJAMIN PARKER! Don't speak to him or me like that." Then she sighed softening; "Ok now I know that something is going on. And you know what that's it. No more Spider Man."

"What?! You can't do that May!"

"I can and I will. Until you get your grades back up and lose the attitude, no, no more Spider Man. Give me your suit." May stood up reaching for his bag.

Peter pulled his bag away; "No."

"No?" May repeated raising an eyebrow; "That wasn't a suggestion Peter. Give it to me."

"No!" Peter said louder glaring at her now. She wasn't listening to him; "I need Spider Man right now."

"No what you need is to focus on school and get your grades back up before I ground you permanently. So do what I say and give me the suit?"

"No dammit why should I? You're not my mom!" Peter instantly stilled, his face paling as he saw May freeze. Her hand dropped and she stared at him with such a hurt and shocked look on her face.

"Peter!" Happy stood up, his face just as shocked as Peter and May's.

Peter couldn't handle it. He just turned and bolted from the house.

"Peter wait!" May called after him rushing to the door, tears in her eyes. She covered her face as Happy pulled her into a hug.

Peter didn't stop running until he reached the corner, and he waited until he climbed on top of a building and burst into tears. He was a horrible person. He had been so mean to May, he didn't even mean it. He just, he saw how angry and disappointed she was in him, and he just thought how much trouble he was for her. That running away idea was looking better and better. Especially now.

His phone rung in his pocket. He hesitated before shaking pulling it out. May was calling. He ignored it, more tears falling.

Then Happy called him.

They continued to call him for the next ten minutes he sat on the building roof just staring at the sky.

He was going to be late for school but he didn't care. He couldn't move from this spot.

Then the phone rung again. This time his dad was calling. He gulped staring at the phone, this was bad. May had to have told him everything. His dad was going to be so mad at him, probably realise that having him as a son was a mistake.

"Peter. Your dad is trying to call you. I am putting him through now."

"No don't!" Peter snapped pleadingly; "Please don't. I can't speak to him now just please don't make me speak to him. I'll do anything just please don't."

He could feel a panic attack coming on and a Sensory Overload, and FRIDAY must have sensed his distress because she relented.

"Ok Peter." FRIADY spoke calmly; "Just take some slow deep breaths. Boss is on his way to your location now. Just remain calm, and try to breath."

"What?" Peter looked around terrified for his dad to appear. No he couldn't see him right now! He couldn't bare to see the disappointment or anger on his dad's face; "No no no. I can't...no I can't do this." Scrambling, Peter ripped off his wristband, and his phone and left them on the top of the building. Then with shaky hands he yanked out his suit and dumped it beside them.

"Peter what are you doing?"

"Just tell them I'm sorry FRIDAY."

Then he took off. His dad wouldn't be able to track him now. He hated leaving his suit behind, but he didn't have time to take the tracker out. He would just have to go back to using his onesie when he went out as Spider Man.

He knew he was acting stupid and beyond irrational. But he was just panicking. He couldn't bare facing his dad or May right now. He needed some space. He had no idea where he was going as he disappeared down an alleyway. He just needed to get away.

0o0oo0SPIDERMAN00o0o0oo0o

Tony landed on the roof only minutes after Peter left. He stepped out the suit and walked over to where Peter left his stuff and his heart raced.

"Oh no...PETER?" Tony called looking around fearfully, before bending down to look at Peter's phone, wristband and suit. What the hell was going on? When May called in tears saying they got into a fight over some bad grade, and he took off and was refusing to answer her calls. He expected to find Peter on some roof crying and apologising, especially over what he said to May. But Tony knew Peter didn't mean what he said to May, so did May, they were worried. That and school, the grade, his attitude, something was clearly bothering Peter. And now this...

"Tony? Did you find him?" Pepper's worried voice came over the line, where FRIDAY was keeping them connected.

"No he's gone." Tony said sadly, picking up the suit and looking at it terrified; "He left his suit Pep. And his phone and FRIDAY's wristband. Why would he do that?"

Pepper gasped just proving Tony's fears. This was bad.

"FRIDAY. Where did he go?" Tony demanded standing up and rushing back to his suit, holding onto Peter's stuff. As he flew into the air he searched furiously for the kid.

"I cannot track Peter boss. The last I have he disappeared into an alley, and I lost him. I'm sorry."

"Tony. I don't understand. Why would he do this?"

"I don't know..." Tony said biting his lip continuing to search. Why would Peter run from him? Did Peter seriously think he would be that mad about the grade or May? He didn't care. He was more worried about Peter right now. Something was very very wrong.

Tony searched for another hour. Even going over to Ned's house, and the school, but Ned's parents and Ned at school had no idea where Peter was. When asked. Ned was truly shocked Peter had disappeared, but did voice some concern that something was bothering him lately. Now it was the middle of the day and there was still no sign of Peter. He had been missing for 4 hours. Tony was official frantic with worry.

Landing at the Tower. Tony stepped out of his suit and fell into Pepper's waiting arms.

"Where is he Pep?" Tony moaned, clinging onto her as some tears fell; "Why is he hiding from me?"

"I don't know honey." Pepper said her voice breaking as her own tears fell. She pulled back to cup his face, her expression becoming resolute; "But you listen to me. We're going to find him. Ok? We will find him."

As they entered the penthouse from the balcony, Tony saw Happy trying to calm May down on the sofa, who was still crying. May spotted them and jumped up though.

"Tony? Did you find him?"

Tony just silently shook his head and May sobbed harder.

"I don't understand. Why would he do this?"

"Boss..." FRIDAY said hesitantly; "I believe I may have the answer."

Tony stilled as they all stared at the ceiling; "What are you talking about. FRIDAY?" He said dangerously; "If you know where Peter is, I swear to god you better tell me right now."

"I don't know where he is. But I believe Peter has run away."

Tony felt his legs giving way, and he fell into a chair behind him. There was blood rushing to his ears, and the only grounding him was Pepper grabbing his arms, calling out to him

"What the hell are you talking about FRIDAY?" May demanded fury on her face, masking her terror.

"FRIDAY?" Pepper prompted once Tony had calmed down a bit; "What is going on?"

"I believe there is something you need to see. Karen has sent me the information from Peter's suit."

0o0oo0SPIDERMAN0o0o0o0o0

After the four adults watched the video from last night when Peter confided in Karen about everything he had been dealing with, and talked about running away. The room fell deathly silent. Tony felt his heart breaking at how broken Peter sounded, and he was utterly devastated. Peter seriously thought about running away? And he'd gone and done it now. How could this happen? This was all his fault. This was all because Peter didn't want to be a secret. He never should have told Peter the truth. Peter was just a child, he shouldn't have been burdened with this. Now he'd run away because of him.

"This is all my fault."

Surprisingly, it was May who said that, not him.

"May..." Happy shook his head grabbing her hand for reassurance; "It's not your fault."

"No I got into a fight with him this morning! I yelled at him." May sobbed, covering her face; "And he's going through all this and I didn't notice. How could I not see he was struggling? And I yelled at him. Tried to take Spider Man away. I didn't even listen to him. This is all my fault."

"No it's my fault." Tony interrupted looking down at the floor; "I told him we had to keep him a secret until he was 18. I'm the one who caused this. I never should have told him. I should have noticed he was struggling."

"It's no ones fault." Pepper snapped sending them all looks; "And right now it doesn't matter. We need to find Peter."

Thank god for Pepper. His rock. She always knew what to do.

God Peter had run away. He could barely process that thought, it just didn't seem real.

"He can't have gotten far." Happy reasoned; "Without his suit."

"He doesn't have much money on him." Tony added nodding; "And he doesn't have his phone. FRIDAY." Tony said aloud looking up; "Check all the security cameras at bus stations, train stations, subways, airports, ferries, everywhere. We're going to find him." There was no way Tony was letting Peter run away. He would search the whole planet to find him if that's what it took. His son was hurting, and he needed his dad.

"Searching now boss."

"I'm going back out to look for him." Tony said standing up. Pepper nodded sadly.

"I'll go out in the car and look around the area." Happy said standing and briefly kissing May.

As they left, Pepper moved over to May and hugged her.

"I can't believe this is happening." May mumbled wiping her eyes; "I thought everything was going so well. But what if this is because of me and Happy? He said he thought he was standing in the way of our happiness. If I pushed Peter away..."

"No no May. Peter was happy for both of you. He's clearly just under a lot of stress right now and he didn't feel he could come to us. But we're going to find him, and we're going to help him see he doesn't have to deal with this alone. It will be ok." Pepper said not just for May, but for herself too. Pepper herself was feeling responsible for this. For not being a good enough mom to Peter. Maybe they were all responsible, or maybe none of them were. Either way they had to help Peter.

0o0o0oo0SPIDERMAN0o0o0o0o0o

Peter meanwhile was sitting in some random alleyway, hugging his knees and crying. Just letting it all out.

He didn't understand how things had gotten so messed up? He'd ruined everything. And he's ruined his parents lives. God he had no idea what to do. He wanted his dad right now. To hug him, and tell him everything was going to be ok. But he was too scared to face him. To face any of them. Maybe running away would be a good idea right now...

No...

Peter couldn't do that. He couldn't bare not seeing his dad or aunt. Or his mom or Happy. He loved them. And running away was just stupid.

He was overreacting about all of this.

Finally the tears stopped, and he took a deep shaky breath staring up at the sky.

He wiped his face and then he looked at his watch and froze. God it was midday. He was so late for school! And they had to be worried sick about him.

Scrambling up Peter burst out the alley and looked around nervously. What was he going to do now? He needed to tell them he was ok and not to worry. But he didn't have his phone and he needed to get to school.

Finally, he spotted a payphone up ahead. Rushing over to it he paused unsure who to call. He was scared to speak to any of them, knowing how mad they'd be.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

He set the phone back and took a step back. What was he going to do? He needed to get to school. Boy Ned was probably worried too. Ned! Ned had a phone. He could text his dad. That way he wouldn't have to actually talk to him.

Yep that was a good idea. Right?

Well it was the only option he had right now.