Thirty-Six
"What are you dwebs doing this summer?" MJ asked Peter and Ned the following Saturday as the trio laid on their backs watching clouds in Central Park. May was working a shift at the hospital and Tony and Pepper were at a charity brunch hosted by the Met.
"My dad is making me visit my grandma and cousins in the Philippines for the entire summer," Ned grumbled, obviously annoyed. He ripped a flower from its stem. "What about you MJ? Are you going to science camp this year?"
MJ, Ned, and Peter had attended science camp every summer for the past three years, but this year Ned and Peter decided they had outgrown it which led to the confusion of what they were doing this summer.
"I actually got an internship in DC this summer." MJ boasted proudly. "My Aunt Tilly pulled some strings, and you are looking at the newest member of the Young Democrats for DC. We get to do a bunch of things, plus meet all these legislators and senators." She pulled out a two-page list. "I already have some things I want to discuss such as-"
"What about you, Peter?" Ned interrupted, not wanting MJ to go on a tangent. "Is Tony dragging you back to Malibu this summer?"
After science camp was over in July, Tony typically dragged him to Malibu with Pepper so they could enjoy the last month of summer, but since Peter didn't have any friends in Malibu, he would spend August Facetiming with MJ and Ned. It was incredibly boring.
"Dad is actually selling the Malibu house." Tony had informed Peter of this over pizza after their training session. "Him and Pepper hardly go over there, and they want to settle in New York from now on. Dad is expanding Avengers HQ this summer."
MJ raised an eyebrow. "Shocker. What are you doing this summer since me and Ned are going to be gone?"
Peter frowned as he finished his soda. "I'm not sure."
The next morning after a rather boring math class, Peter still had no idea what his plans for the summer were now that he realized he was going to be friendless for most of it. Harry Osborn had surprisingly sent him a text message this morning asking him when Peter was free so the two of them could go on a yachting trip.
Peter had yet to respond. Harry was a nice guy and he had been the main reason he had been able to survive a bunch of boring functions growing up. But he didn't think it was smart enough to continue hanging out with Harry when his dad was basically housing HYDRA in his corporate building and it was the reason Peter had become Spiderman in the first place.
Peter flinched as he turned around and caught something that had been thrown in his direction. He looked down and saw a bread roll.
"Wow, he is good. You weren't lying."
"I told you, Bucky."
Peter blinked as he looked at Bucky and Steve who were dressed casually in jeans and sweatshirts. "What are you guys doing here?"
Bucky shrugged. "Steve had to do some lame PSA, so I came along."
"You're not doing it too?"
"Having an ex-criminal do a school PSA is not the smartest thing, Einstein." Bucky craned his neck. "Anyway, Steve here promised me tacos afterwards. You want to go?"
"I have school."
Steve frowned. "Is everything alright, Pete? You look worried, Hill and Fury aren't giving you trouble right?"
Peter coughed. "I think Natasha took care of them. I'm not worried exactly, just wondering what I should do over the summer. Ned and MJ aren't going to be in the city."
Bucky and Steve exchanged looks before Steve coughed. "We thought it would be obvious what you would do this summer. Train. With us at HQ. Get you whipped into shape after your little abort mission."
Peter gaped at them, though they were right. It wasn't completely out of the blue. Tony himself had trained with him days earlier when he apologized for being a shitty father. Peter also knew he wasn't terrible, but if this stunt with HYDRA taught him anything it was that Fury was right and he was sloppy.
"That would work," Peter said slowly before brightening up. "Does this mean I'm an Avenger?"
"No!" Bucky and Steve shouted at the same time. The bell rang and kids came pouring in shooting them confused looks while they looked embarrassed.
"We don't let kids join the Avengers," Steve snapped, sounding weirdly on edge. "I talked to Tony about this, and he agreed. You're a kid, his kid. He doesn't want you in there until he can't legally force you not to join, but he doesn't want you to be a sitting duck until then, hence the training,"
Peter pouted like a five-year-old.
Bucky laughed as he clapped his hand on his shoulder. "Sorry, kid but you're fifteen and you're finishing your sophomore year. Enjoy your drama free life while you can. Come on, Rogers, you promised me tacos. I didn't forget."
"What is all this?" Peter wondered as he came into the apartment after school that day. He saw piles and piles of takeout on the small dining room table. Thai, Chinese, pizza, burgers, enough to feed a small army.
May was opening a bottle of ranch and pulling open a carton of wings. "We're celebrating, Petey."
"Celebrating what?"
"I'll explain in just a second, grab some food and get comfortable."
Peter had never seen May so happy, the last time being when he had agreed to move in with her. He wondered what had made May so happy. She was usually cheery, but now she was practically bouncing off the walls.
Once Peter had filled his plate with food, he looked at his aunt eagerly. "Plate is filled. What's your good news Aunt May?"
"I got offered a new job." Aunt May's eyes shone with unshed tears. "I will be the nursing manager in the pediatric department at a top-rated hospital. Which means a higher salary, benefits, and actual vacation."
Peter clapped his hands together as he pulled her into a hug. "That's awesome, May." He knew his aunt worked hard and that she was severely underpaid and unappreciated. It felt like all of the people in Peter's life were getting lucky these days.
May pulled back with some hesitation. "Petey, the thing is the job is not here in New York. New York hospitals are overflowing with staff and the competition is cutthroat not to mention everyone has a relative they fit into every position somehow. Honey, the job is in Minnesota."
Minnesota? Peter had never been there before, but when he thought of Minnesota he thought of cows and farmland. "That's so far." His voice was dry.
"Not really." May pushed back his brown curls. "Just a short plane ride away. I think it's still considered the East coast."
Leave New York? Leave his friends? Leave Midtown? Leave the Avengers? Leave his dad, Pepper, and Happy?
"Peter, I would really like it if you came with me," May said softly. "With my new salary, I can afford an actual house. You can even have a game room."
"What about school and being Spiderman?"
"You're just finishing your sophomore year; you have two years of school before heading off to college. The school near the hospital has an excellent science program. As for being Spiderman, I know your dad is ok with it, but maybe you can take a break from being a superhero and just focus on being a kid."
Peter didn't say anything, he just stared at the floor, I don't want to leave New York.
May noticed his hesitation and squeezed his arm. "Just think about it, Peter."
-End of Chapter Thirty-Six-
Thank you so much for your support! Only four more chapters to go :)
