Disclaimer: I do not own nor make profit off of The Avengers. It all belongs to the MCU and The Walt Disney Company
Sensitivity Overload
"Cup Noodle?" I sigh and rub my temples harder,
"No."
"Granola bar?"
"Thats crunchy stupid."
"You're right,"
"Guys!" I growl, "quiet please." I push between clenched teeth. Everything hurts,
"Sorry," Ned whispers. I push my head down into my arms and clench my teeth tighter. I should have just skipped today,
"Sorry Pen, migraines are a pain," Harry's voice is just barely above a whisper as he scoots in next to me on the lunch table.
"They are." Ned stresses sliding in on the other side, I'm 99% sure if I could look over he would be winking at me. Ever since Harry joined in on our friend group, Ned has developed an insecurity about me telling him that I'm Spiderman, it's odd to me because he's never felt this insecure about MJ knowing. If everything wasn't so bright and loud I'd push them both away.
I woke up this morning with the beginning effects of what I've begun calling spidey sense overload. The sun is 10X brighter, sound is 10X louder, even the clothes on my body feel 10X tighter. This has only happened twice since I was bitten a year ago and both times aunt May was able to just call me out of school under the pretense of a 24 hour bug, but with aunt May pulling a double shift at the hospital their was no one to call the school. I grabbed my sunglasses and headphones and rushed to the subway making it just in time. I should have skipped.
"Panera mac and cheese." MJ's voice pierces my eardrums, I squeeze my eyes tighter and then look up, sure enough a paper bowl of Panera Mac and Cheese sits in front of me, steam rolling off the top,
"How did you get that?" The nearest Panera is at least ten minutes from the school, theirs just no way she got that and came back,
"Does it matter." She blinks her typical bored expression on her face,
"She stole that didn't she?" Harry whispers,
"Right from the teacher lounge microwave" Ned whispers right back. I swallow and push the meal away,
"I'm not hungry." MJ pushes it right back,
"You didn't eat lunch, you have to have something in you're stomach." I don't feel well enough to eat, but grab the bowl and take a bite anyway. It tastes great and I shovel another spoon full in to my mouth, I haven't eaten all day something I've never done since becoming Spiderman, my appetite usually keeps me eating and snacking all day. Before I know it I'm finished and Harry is quickly stuffing the bowl in the trash,
"Thank god for free periods," he mumbles before throwing both his and my backpacks over his shoulder.
"Oh thank you, but Penny and I actually have math together so I'll be taking that." Ned smiles grabbing for my bag, Harry turns before he can grab the strap,
"Well than I will walk with you."
"No thank you."
"You don't have to walk with us." Harry sings. I lay my head back into the crooks of my elbows, not again.
"Thank you prima donnas," MJ practically spit, I peak my head up in time to see MJ grab my bag off of Harry's shoulder and push both boys aside, "Come on Pen." She grips my bicep and pulls me up, "we're going to walk to math class, when you're done comping underwear sizes you can meet us later." MJ hooks her arm around me and pulls me down hallway,
"Hate to break to you, but my underwear is bigger." Ned almost seems to boast before MJ and I are out of earshot,
"What did you do to them?" MJ asks tightening he grip around my arm and slowing her pace,
"Talked to them I guess." I mumble back reaching up to the top of my head to flip my sunglasses down, it's not much but it helps enough and with this being the last class of the day I have to just get through the next 40 minutes.
"Good luck if you think Miss Hoffman is going to let you wear those." She's not wrong but at this point I don't care, I reach into my bag and pull out aunt May's foam earplugs and stuff in them in. She has a million of these little orange things around the house she won't miss a couple. We stop outside the door and MJ takes my backpack off her shoulder and holds it out I slide it onto my own shoulder and take a deep breath.
"Lets do this"
...
"Miss Parker" I force my eyes up to the women in front of me, Miss Hoffman stands over my desk hand outstretched and eyes focused down,
"Yes Miss Hoffman?" She points to her ears and reaches her hand out again. "I can hear you, I promise." With everything louder than normal the ear plugs don't drowned out the sound as much as it just lowers the volume.
"Ear plugs out Miss Parker." I turn to look at Ned, his hands shoots out to save me,
"Miss Hoffman-"
"Not now Mr. Leeks, Miss Parker ear plugs now!" MJ was right the minute I walked into class Miss Hoffman took my sunglasses away. I've spent the whole class keeping my head down and eyes half closed, now she wants the last line of my defense. Reluctantly I reach up and pop them out my ears and into her hands and instantly everything crashes down. It takes everything in me not to drop my whole head onto my desk and push my fingers in my ears, instead I focus on clenching my teeth. Normally I just bite the inside of my cheeks but I have no doubt that right now I would bite right through them. The sound of the wind rushing outside the window almost seems to fly in one ear and out the other, the whispers sound like shoutings, and Miss Hoffman's voice sounds like she's screaming directly into my face. I should have skipped, I should have skipped.
"Penny," Ned tries to gain my attention, but he doesn't need to be that loud, "Penny hey!" He whispers louder, it's too loud,
"Mr. Leeks!" I can't. I get to my feet and raise to the door, "Miss Parker!" It's too loud she's too loud it's too much. I raise down the hall and into the bath room. I fall though the stall door, thank god it's unlocked and loose what's ever in my stomach which happens to be MJ's stolen Panera mac and cheese. Why didn't I just skip! The bell rings. I push my fingers in my ears. In the bathroom the bell is always a bit more muffled but right now it's as if the bell was right next to my head. The bathroom door opens and I reach up flushing the toilet before MJ can push the stall open. I look up from the floor where MJ stands again holding my back pack,
"You're crying," She frowns. I blink feeling the moisture on my cheeks, I hadn't realized I was crying. I quickly reach up and wipe the tears away,
"Sorry," She shrugs and holds out her hand, I don't want to go out there. Everyone will be running around shouting and screaming, happy that it Friday, so instead I pat the title floor. MJ wastes no time in dropping both bags and taking the spot across from me. The stall is small but we both fit perfectly and for a few minutes we just sit there and if I could hug her for just understanding that I just need a moment I would, but then I feel guilty. I've been struggling with the notion that MJ has been one of my best friends yet I keep half of me a secret from her, but on the other hand I'm also surprised with how observant she is that she just hasn't figured it out yet...or has she. Someone knocks on the door and I throw my hands over my ears. I just want to be under the covers in the safety of my bunk bed. MJ gets to her feet and opens the door, Harry covers his eyes and steps back,
"The halls are pretty empty now, do you want to come out?" I groan but get to my feet reaching for my backpack, the faster I get home the faster I get to my bunkbed. That simple thought keeps me going until I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I don't even have to look, I know who that is. Ned pushes Harry out of the way and peeks his head into the girls room,
"Happy." His eyes are wide and I share his look,
"Happy?" Harry sticks his head back in, "Are you happy?" he looks to MJ "I know you're answer, you're never happy, are you happy Pen?" Ned pushes him back but Harry doesn't go easily this time and both remain halfway in the door way,
"Happy is Mr. Starks driver." Ned clarifies,
"So..." Harry almost rolls his eyes. Thats the only real thing that's inhibited our friendship my "internship with Stark Industries" and Harrys father's rival business Oscorp.
"Happy picks penny up for her internship...practically everyday." MJ sounds out that last part slowly, I turn to MJ
"It's not everyday," it's everyday.
"Just ask him to take you home." Brilliant, however it seems these days I can't do anything without Tony Stark knowing, thanks to the curfew he installed in the suit a few weeks back. I can't even patrol past eleven PM not to mention the smart watch he makes me wear to monitor my every movement. I'm surprised it didn't ding whilst I was vomiting.
"I'll do that." I tell Harry as I shoulder past both him and Ned knowing damn well I'm not going to do that. My phone buzzes again, Happy doesn't like to be kept waiting and If it wasn't so damn bright in here I would roll my eyes when my phone buzzes another three times before I even get to the door. I have to stop before I can reach for the handle, everything is spinning, the noises, the florescent lights the the fabric on my body, it's too much. A hand lays on my shoulder and I turn to Ned, he opens the door for me and hand me his sunglasses. I could kiss him,
"Kid lets go!" Happy shouts angrily standing next to the large SUV in front of the school, I clench my teeth and head for the stairs when the car behind Happy lays on the horn. It's too close and it's too loud, something in my head almost feels like it's snapping and I throw my hands over my ears and fall; my knees hit the concrete hard and Ned's sunglasses fall. Theirs a hand on my back and then Happy's voice is in front of me loud, too loud.
"Kid whats wrong?"
"Her spidey sense is a bit to much today." Neds voice is much quieter and I realize it's his hand on my back,
"Alright come on kid." This time Happy's voice is much quieter just a bit above a whisper, his hand encircles my bicep pulling me to my feet. Neds hand never leaves my back and I realize that both are walking me to the car, once we get there both help me into the back. I lay down on my side and curl in keeping my fingers deep in my ears and my eyes shut completely, it's just enough to keep me from ripping my own eyes and ears off.
"Take care of her," I hear Ned say,
"She'll be fine." Happy responds and although I know he's trying to be quiet when he shuts the door it's too loud. I can't help the pathetic whimper that comes out of my mouth, the only thing that makes me feel better is knowing I'm alone in the car. The door slams one more time and I'm able to hold in my cries although I taste something metallic on my tongue. Great it's going to take at least thirty minutes for the cuts on my cheeks to close, I knew I'd bite through them.
"What's going on kid?" Happy's voice penetrates through my stuffed ears, I swallow. Mmmmmm blood and spit,
"Just take me home Happy," I mumble keeping the pained and pathetic moans out of my voice,
"Alright hold on let me call the boss." I bring my knees closer to my chest, the smaller I can become the more of a barrier I feel between the wheels moving below and me and the noise from where Happy is calling on the SUV's radio system. I can almost feel the rings in my head right behind my eyes.
"What?" Tony picks up on the third ring, clear annoyance on his tongue,
"I'm taking the kid home." Happy hurries out. For once I wish he would just use my name, it's not like it's hard.
"No benuo, I told you to come here." I can hear sparks on the other end, Tony's already in the lab,
"Kids sick," For god sakes Happy just say Penny!
"What do you mean the kids sick, we don't have anything on the schedule for the kid to be sick." Tony states firmly, you'd swear he was flipping though a planner, nope no time for this
"According to that one friend you somehow allow to live with our secretes, it's something with the kids spidey sense" JUST SAY PENNY! Wait let live?
"Sensitivity to noise, eye shut tight to keep out the light" Tony states, I hear the sparks again, he's soldering and drilling something,
"Looks like it." Happy speaks after a second, I have no doubt if I could open my eyes, Happy and I would be awkwardly staring at each other. Thats what happens when your fancy SUV can drive it's self when you want it too.
"mmm" Tony musses as if he's trying to figure out a simple problem "Classic episode of overstimulation, bring her here." nooooo I almost groan forgetting who can her me. I can't tell Tony Stark, IRON MAN nooooo.
"You sure?" Happy sounds unconvinced, "He hung up on me!" He growls,
"You sound surprised?" I mumble,
"Twenty years of survive and he still hangs up on me."
"I saved his half the population and I have an 11PM curfew." I force out between pushed lips. Happy takes a quick turn the screeching of the tires pierces my brain and I push my fingers deeper into my ears although it's not possible and tuck my chin tighter into my chest,
"Sorry kid." I swear i'm going to break my teeth I'm clenching them so hard. The car comes to an abrupt stop jostling me around. This time I can't help the yip in my voice and then Happy's car door slams. He's crazy if he thinks I'm getting out, I'm going to lay in this back seat trying my best to keep out all sound light, I'm already doing a good job ignoring the sound outside the SUV and I'd continue if the door by my head didn't just open. Nope I'm not getting out, even when a hand is placed ever so gently on my shoulder, that not Happy, Happy takes pleasure in having a "Firm Hand" as he once told me.
"Hey Queens." Steve Rodgers voice is quiet, see Happy thats how you lower your voice. I take my fingers out of my ears and look up and instantly regret it. I thought I had thrown up everything that was in my stomach but opening my eyes to the florescent lights in the parking garage sends pain behind my eyes and I scramble to crawl out of the car just enough to vomit the rest of whats in my stomach on the concrete. It's only when theirs nothing but bile left to cough up that I realize I didn't puke on just the concrete but also Steve Rogers shoes.
"You can leave me to die now." I mumble reaching up to wipe my mouth only to dry gag. Hands come up to pull my hair back,
"I won't do that," Mr. Rogers steps back shaking my vomit off his shoes all while keeping my hair back and away from my face.
"I'm so sorry," I gag again realizing that Mr. Rogers is still keeping his voice just barely above a whisper,
"It's okay Queens when you don't feel good, you don't feel good, just let me know when you're done, Tony sent me down here to get you." Another hand comes down to rub my back, I just want to go home and crawl under my covers and sleep for the next three days. I gag a few more times and then take a deep breath,
"I'm done," I force out gripping the seats. The hand on my back pauses,
"Are you sure?" Mr. Rogers asks. I nod and try to sit up, I'm going to have to tell Mr. Stark that I can't work in the lab today. "It's okay Queen's I've got you." Mr Rogers helps me out of the car but the minute my feet touch the concrete my knees buckle and Mr. Rogers arms sweep me up before I can fall. If the lights above weren't such a eye piercing bright white I'd be humiliated, but theirs something to say about how every single ounce of caring about being tough leaves your mind when you don't feel good. I hear a door slam and again push my fingers in my ears,
"Sorry Penny" Mr. Rogers whisper's he even loosens his tight grip. It's rare he calls me by my real name, it's either Queens or Spidey, Penny is just to weird from his voice. I try to say thank you but clench my teeth hard when the sound of a buzzing suddenly enters, I recognize it right away, the sound of cheap lights overworking. I have no doubt that Mr. Stark wouldn't allow anything cheap in his building so we have to be in a back stairwell. Man why didn't I just skip today. Another door, I can feel we're not walking up the stairs anymore and after a few more steps and a few more doors this time shut more carefully and quietly the buzzing stops. I still keep my fingers deep in my ears and eyes tightly shut but the conversation between Happy and Mr. Rogers is still loud inside my skull,
"Does this Happen often?"
"I've never seen it."
"Tony said it's some kinda sensitivity thing,"
"I've never seen anything like it."
My head hurts. This always happens, the noises and the light get to the point where a headache settles at the base of my skull and grows until my eyes, nose and tongue go numb. Then I really have to focus to just keep breathing instead of gasping until finally I just fall asleep and wake up the next morning feeling as if nothing brings me back to the point of, I just should have F*$#ING SKIPPED! If I can just sit in a dark and quiet area it never gets worst. I growl in the back of my throat at my own frustration,
"This way." Another voice joins, this one distinctly sarcastic, even when he's being serious hes sarcastic,
"What is this?" Mr. Rogers jostles me a bit,
"I call it my calm down corner, I come down here usually after getting off the phone with Happy here." Mr. Stark voice chimes out and even though my eyes are closed I can see Happy stop dead in his tracks and shake his head. Suddenly something happens, Mr. Rogers keeps me in his arms but it's almost like we cross a threshold of silence and dark. One second their was burning light behind me closed off eyelids igniting a terrible orange behind mt lids all the while voice and buzzing and leather soles on title pound into my brain like a hammer on concrete. Now it's quite, it's dark, it's peace.
"Set her down on the bed." Mr. Starks voice is notable quieter as I'm laid on something soft, pillows and warm fleece cradle my body. Somethings pulled up over my shoulders, it's fuzzy and I almost sigh,
"Calm down corner?" Mr. Rogers asks,
"I built it to absorb all light and sound, we could yell and our sensitive spider right here will only hear a normal speaking voice." I didn't realize it until Mr. Stark said it, but he's right. Before even a whisper sounded like yelling, now its back to normal speech and tone. "Better kid?" I've never ignored Mr. Stark, but theirs a first for everything and I'm too content to respond,
"Queens?" Mr. Rogers ask when I don't respond right away,
"She'll be fine, come one." Theres a light push that sounds like the shutting of a door and I suddenly feel alone, but I also feel light, warm, and for once today, safe. This is 10X's better than under my bunkbed and I let the "calm down corner" lure me to sleep.
...
It's still dark and quiet when I wake up, feeling dead and weak. Theirs two types of naps in this world, the good kind in which you sleep for thirty minutes and get right back to work and then the bad kind, where you sleep for a few hours and wake feeling like it's a new year...this is a bad nap, then again all of my naps are bad naps. I only ever tend to need them after an episode...Oh thats right. I open my eyes but it's pitch black, Mr. Starks calm down corner. Dark and soundless with the softest bed I've ever slept on. Part of me just wants to lay back and go to sleep, the other part of me is worried it is actually a new year. I slide until I feel the edge of the mattress and then plant my feet down and stand on shaky legs, my hand outstretched feeling for the wall. Something squishy hits my hand. Soundproofing foam, the music rooms walls are line with this stuff, used to absorb sound instead of letting it bounce off. I shuffle my feet, with my hand on the wall and walk forward. Theirs some sort of thick carpet on the ground too.
I hit a gap in the wall between foam and reach down feeling for a door handle, I don't have to search long and almost smile, even the door handle is foam. I pull open the door and shut my eyes tight, the lights outside are slightly dimmed but compared to the dark it's enough to close my eyes and then blink them slowly open. However when I open my eyes the second time it's much easier and this time I do smile. The oversensitivity is over, this brightness is no worst then when I wake up in the middle of the night to use to the bathroom. You know not to turn the light on but you always somehow do, then you have to close your eyes tight and flick the lights back off or wait for them to adjust. I blink a few time, the last time I do Mr. Stark is magically at the end of the hallway, suit pants and half untucked dress shirt, typical Mr. Stark dress code. It's his from work to lab outfit.
"Hungry?" I reach up to rub my eyes,
"I could eat."
...
I look at my phone before turning it over, 9,853 calories, why I scanned everything before I ate, I'll never know. Mr. Stark pushes another plate of cheese fries in front of me,
"200 more and you beat Michael Phelps."
"Haha," it's all sarcastic, but I still pull it close and dig in before asking the question I don't want to ask, "How long?"
"Only 16 hours." Mr. Stark says this like it's the most natural thing in the world, all the while I choke on my fries,
"20 hours?" I cough out, banging on my chest. Mr. Stark just nods bitting into his burger,
"Au...aunt May-" I swallow grabbing for the Dr Pepper in front of me,
"Don't worry I checked with the hospital, she's pulling a double shift, she won't be home till tomorrow. Hard worker your aunt, no way could I work there three days straight." I finish my soda and take a large breath,
"I'm glad you're so nonchalant." Mr Stark nods,
"How many times has this happen?" He asks mid-bite, I take another fry,
"This is the third time, usually aunt May calls me out of school, but she wasn't home." Tony nods, "I thought I could make it through the day."
"I talked with Cho, she wrote you a note for the school, I already went and faxed it over saying you get migraines causing sensitivity to sound and light and you should either be excused or allowed the use of sunglasses and or earplugs when necessary so they teachers can't take them away." I stop mid-chew,
"How'd you-"
"Know?" He raises one eyebrow and swallows, "Your friend called, I have to say I like that kid. Did you know you left your phone at school?" I did? I shake my head, remembering the conversation I overheard Happy having with Mr. Stark,
"Is that why you let him live?" Mr. Stark nods,
"Yes, let him know the minute I start hating him he's dead." I can't help the laugh and pop a few more fires in my mouth,
"Why would Dr. Cho write a note for me?"
"Cause I paid her too."
"Why would you do that?" Mr. Stark turns and squints,
"Would you rather I not?" I shake my head but inside I just wanna hear Mr. Stark say he did it for me, but I know his cool keeps him from saying words like that so instead I ask a different question,
"How did you know about it...light and sound?" Mr. Stark reaches for his milkshake and takes a long sip,
"I figured, if your Penny tingle-"
"Spidey sense"
"-Allows you to be sensitive to whats happening around you, then it was only a matter of time before it all bottled up and became too much, like mentos in cola, it all builds until it needs to be released,"
"Great analogy." I praise
"Thanks I came up with it myself." He polishes off his milkshake and reaches for one of the hot dogs stacked on the table,
"Why did you build that calm down corner?" Mr. Stark raises one eyebrow,
"Full of questions today aren't you?" I shrug also reaching for another hotdog and take a bite,
"I did sleep for almost two days." I say between chews, Mr. Stark swallows and nods once,
"Fair" He takes a bite chews slowly and swallows, "I built it last year when I wanted a quite and dark place to think, I was going to dismantle it when I was done, but then I though. I don't know someone else might need it." And their it is, proof that Mr. Stark cares all without saying he cares, one day I think I'll want the words, but I'll take this,
"How kind of you."
"I'm a very generous person," I can't help the smile and finish off my hotdog to hide it, but I know he's seen it, he's Tony Stark and Tony Stark doesn't miss a thing,
"Tony!" Both Mr. Stark and I stop turning to the voice. Mrs. Potts stands in the door way mouth slightly agape and hands out, motioning to our mess. Wrappers from the burger joint Mr. Stark ordered from lay everywhere,
"Hey honey," He takes another bite, Happy appears right behind her,
"Oh Paulies." He scoots past her and grabs one of the wrapped cheeseburgers on the table. Mrs. Potts walks up and pulls it out of his hands,
"Happy no, your cholesterol." This is the first time I've seen Happy sad, "Tony I told you to buy her something green." Mr. Stark takes a bite of his own burger and shows her it's contents,
"I ordered extra pickles." Again Mrs. Potts reaches forward and grabs the burger out of his hands, "Did you forget what Dr. Cho told you? You're up there right next to- Happy." She turns around grabbing another burger from his hands, he at least got a bite in this time, "OUT! All of you!" I waste no time, when Mrs. Potts is angry she is even scarier than Mr. Stark. I'm at the door when she calls me back,
"Penny" I turn as she holds out the burger, I take it from her, "Go rest, I'll bring you a green juice later." I smile and nod, turning back to unwrapping the fast food snack, as I sneak out.
"Why does she get a burger?" I hear Happy asks,
"Because she listens, and she's not a 54 year old man."
"You're old Happy." Mr. Starks quips.
"You're 55 Tony!" Okay, being here wasn't so bad after all.