Wednesday xx of xxxx. 10:30 A.M.
Swinging over the buildings was our beloved Spidey.
In search of some new heroic adventure.
He had already had two and a half weeks without going to high school since he had started his new AND last school year.
His Aunt May was worried. She had received dozens of calls from the school about her nephew for these unexcused absences. She didn't know how to broach the subject with the boy, who was only 16 years old, nor did she know what was causing such behavior. He didn't know if it was the rebellious period or whatever it was that he had on top of it.
Peter had always been a diligent and committed boy. But ever since he got that internship at Stark industries the year before, everything started to fall apart. First he forgot some assignments, then he overslept in class and was late for school, then he didn't come home to sleep and that was just the beginning, two months after those major failures he started missing occasional absences and now after one year, it was the beginning of a new one, and he started the year with full weeks of absences, sometimes he shows up and sometimes he doesn't, sometimes he just runs away. They have now been in school for 4 and a half months and are about to enter a new term.
Her nephew would start to become disinterested in school and would disappear and then come back bruised or in body aches, the simple excuse was that he was with Mr. Stark and sometimes they worked with machines that got out of control. That he wasn't the only guy who got beaten up by failed prototypes.
He grabbed his cell phone and dialed the number Tony Stark himself gave him in emergencies. This was an emergency, his nephew was an emergency.
-This is Tony Stark's voicemail, if I don't answer it, it's because I'm busy, if it's an extreme emergency leave a voice message, I'll listen to it when I can, okay, bye. - was what the answering machine said
-Mr. Stark, this is May Parker. Look I know you're a busy man and I appreciate what you've done for Peter and I appreciate you giving him a chance. But if everything you give him causes him to drop out of school, to come home bruised and sore, then I don't want him to continue attending. Peter's rewarding grades have been plummeting more and more since he has been attending your company for the internship. My Peter was not like that. I am not saying that where he is going is wrong, what I am saying is wrong, is that he is taking that internship over his elementary education, which he needs to pass if he wants to get a real job, rather than just being an intern.
Mr. Stark I know that Peter, looks up to you as the Father figure that he didn't have and that he listens to you always. I ask that if he is with you, you talk to him and make him understand that focusing on that alone is not right, but if he doesn't understand, there will be no choice but to refuse to let Peter stay there, he is a minor and I am his legal guardian and therefore I can still decide about his life. I hope you hear this, Mr. Stark and understand that I am doing this for Peter's sake. - she hung up the cell phone.
The woman looked at a fixed point, then grabbed her things and went to work.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}{} {} {}
Meanwhile, a certain billionaire was rolled up in his sheets and a newly risen blond had listened to the message left by the answering machine at his partner's bedside.
The blond got up, walked to the kitchen and took a glass of water, then returned to the room and poured it over Tony's face.
-What the fuck are you doing, Steve," said the brown-haired man in a bad mood, because of his partner's good (not so good) morning manner.
-Language, Tony. Peter's aunt left a message, which left me a little upset - he answered with his arms crossed and a serious look.
-What happened to her now? - he said still asleep, not paying attention to what he was being told.
-Are you making Peter skip his classes to come and do experimental prototype work at the company or are you sending him on missions? You know how I feel about Pet skipping his classes.
-What? Of course not, his internships are only on Fridays, with permission from his school, and Saturdays from 8:00 to 12:30 noon. He's a kid, he's not ready to take that kind of job yet. Even with everything and powers, you know I wouldn't put him in anything dangerous. It's risky enough that he's in the Avengers as a backup. And about missions, the last mission in which he was urgently required was 5 months ago, after that, he hasn't been sent on any more, no matter how small.
-Well, what I heard in that message contradicts everything you are telling me. Mrs. Parker says that Pet is not fulfilling her obligations because she is attending the internship and sometimes she doesn't come home.
-Well, I emphasize again that I am the one who conducts Pet's internship, and I only see him on Fridays and Saturdays. Also on his vacations or holidays. Also in special cases, which are the missions, but you and I are the ones who choose which ones he can integrate and cases of paramount help from him. Besides, I have seen him do a lot of his school work when he comes and stays here, to pass the time.
-What about the days when he doesn't come home?
-Does he stay with his friends? He's a teenager and at that age they're probably watching porn or drinking on the sly, they're experimenting. He's young, it wouldn't be weird if he didn't come home so his aunt wouldn't find out what he's doing. Maybe she has reached her moment of rebellion.
-What about the bumps and bruises? Mrs. May says she has them, from failed prototypes, Peter told her?
-I repeat, Peter is interning with me. He doesn't intern with the other guys, so he doesn't work with failed prototypes. He usually helps me in other areas and I teach him other things, when Bruce is here, they look at beginning math, physics and applied chemistry. If Natasha is here, she talks to him about some of his missions. Oh and Thor, who came with Loki, they start telling him stories, from the beginning of time. But as I tell you, it's only Fridays and Saturdays and days off that he can come and hang out. When he stays several days in a row, I always ask JARVIS to leave him a message and I check on some of his assignments from time to time. - said the man
Steve thought for a moment and then asked.
-Tony, does Peter have his suits with him?
-No, I made it clear to him that I don't like him walking around with them. - He replied, seeing what his partner was getting at.
The blond got up and walked to the room next to theirs, the engineer followed him.
Steve entered and looked in the closet for the display case where Peter's Spider-man costumes were kept. He prayed to Thor's father, that the suit was there.
And to the surprise and anger of both, one was missing and the other space was occupied with a set of casual clothes. Both spaces were full, the gloves of the remaining suit were occupying the space of the missing one, that's why the alarm that one was missing didn't sound.
-Smart boy," said Steve, "he looks like someone. You better fix this Anthony - spoke the Captain, leaving the room.
That boy... Tony's mind was scheming hundreds of plans to make the brat who dared to lie to his face suffer.
But he remembered he was a child and he couldn't torture him. Well there was only one thing left for him to do.
-Damn kid, he's going to listen to me this time - he said angrily as he stormed out of the room, slapping his hands in the air.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
On the other hand Spider-man was fighting some thugs in an alley.
He had caught them robbing a lady.
Peter knew how to fight with his webs, but let's face it without them he couldn't defend himself.
One year in the Avengers and he was pitifully the weakest link, not knowing how to fight hand-to-hand. No matter how much strength he had, he didn't know how to use it properly and that was a problem.
He could kill someone if he didn't control himself and he didn't want that.
Here he was trying to deal with all three thugs at once.
And one had dealt him a blow to the head and in his anger managed to take him out of combat with a broken arm and entangle the others in spider webs.
When he heard the sirens he left the place, swinging between the buildings.
When he was two blocks away, he sat down on the roof of a building where he had left his things in a backpack.
He took off his mask and rubbed where he had been hit. Karen had suggested he go to a hospital, as the blow he had received had been too hard and he might have a concussion.
Ignoring his AI's voice he pulled a book out of his bag and began to read it. Should he have been at school? Yes. Was he lying? Yes. Did he want to stop what he was doing? No.
School was becoming more and more boring, as the subjects were not challenging.
Ned was no longer in school, his parents had a job opportunity in Brazil and he had to go with them.
And lastly Flash, he was making his life impossible since Ned left. It didn't matter that he was Spider-man, he couldn't stand up to him, as he had promised to keep his powers under wraps.
The last week he attended was a nightmare he would like to forget, but to his martyrdom whenever he closed his eyes it was there. Out of sheer fear of being found out he was Spider-man, he did nothing but scream to be had, but that only encouraged his laughter.
They videotaped him as they stripped him naked and defiled his body, as he was beaten and punched and spat on. Yet he did not cry, so as not to give them the pleasure of seeing his tears. When he needed help, where were the heroes? No one came to his aid.
When he woke up, after apparently passing out he could hardly move, it took him two hours to move his body. He was locked in the cellar behind the football area. As best he could, he found his clothes, all battered, put them on and left the place.
He wouldn't say anything to the teachers as they wouldn't do anything. It was Flash's parents who were financing the school so that it wouldn't close its doors.
And currently the only good thing left in his life were the internships with Tony and then he could stay in the tower to live with the other members. Oh and also what he was doing now as it kept his mind busy all the time.
He had become so engrossed that he didn't see the unraveling armor and the person walking towards him coming.
-Peter Parker," Tony spoke seriously behind him.
Peter looked up scared, he knew that at any moment, he was going to realize that the suit was not there.
-Could you tell me what are you doing here, with the suit, and not at school?
-Patrolling - was the simple answer and then he looked away.
-That, boy, is not your job, it's... - he was interrupted
-Whose? Those who call themselves policemen? Four weeks ago my aunt almost died, if I hadn't been on patrol. Where were they?
There were five patrol cars in the area and the nearest one was half a block away, with a prostitute in the car. If I don't do it, who will? Who will help them? - the boy shouted angrily.
Stark didn't know how to react to what was said. He was usually aware of what was going on in the life of the boy and his aunt, he hadn't heard about it and considered it a great fault on his part.
- Why didn't you tell me that, Peter? - he asked
- Why didn't I tell you? - I called him 5 times that Tuesday night 4 weeks ago, he never picked up the phone, the only thing he answered was his stupid answering machine - he said hurt - If the police would do their job, I wouldn't have to be on patrol. Besides I do this before you found me here and offered me to join the S. H. I. E. L. D. puppet group.
-You offend me kid, I'm nobody's puppet... well maybe Steve's in the evenings... but that's not the point. - I cut his 18+ diatribe short - You're 16 years old Pet. I know that helping the avengers has put a huge burden on your shoulders. But you're not the one who should be attending to these problems, I'm not saying what you're doing is wrong. I was like that too when I first put on the armor.
I wanted to stop all the evil around me, but I understood that not everything is my responsibility, clearly before all that, I had entered MIT at 15, soon after I had the company under my command without me being able to object. I repeat, you are 16 years old, your only concern should be graduating from high school. And maybe the occasional assignment provided by S. H.I.E.L.D. You should not try to carry all those responsibilities like I did in my day.
Now to what I came for. Your internship will be restricted until you finish this year. You will return my suit... - again he was interrupted
-You can't do that - said the boy with his tone mortified, his eyes crystallized and his thoughts flying a mile a minute.
I need to be doing something, I need to be doing something.
-Oh yes, yes I can do that. You lied to me, you lied to Steve and most of all you lied to your aunt. She was the one who called me worried about you. You've been doing night work without my consent.
You'll give me back the suit and I'll give it back to you when I see that your grades are up, I see that you won't put yourself at unnecessary risk and I can trust you again. JARVIS - He called his AI
-Hello sir - answered the Armor behind him.
-Scan Mr. Parker," he mentioned.
The AI did as requested and Peter tried to avoid him without really achieving anything.
-Mr. Parker has a slight contusion on the right back of the head, I recommend a visit to a Hospital. Also other bruises on the back, abdomen and arms. And a badly healed sprained ankle and badly healed fractures in the left knee, head on the upper right and ribs as well. I recommend getting it checked out, and a deeper scan, Sir - That comment worried him a little, but he didn't show it, if JARVIS didn't say what it was then it wasn't too bad, he guessed.
-That's nothing, I'm fine," the boy spoke, shaking with his eyes closed, so he assumed he was upset.
-You call that being fine? - he asked perplexed after hearing the analysis.
-Heroes get hurt all the time and I don't see them complaining," said the boy looking at his face.
-Yes, heroes get hurt, but you are not officially a superhero. You're still a kid and until you come of age, you won't be named one and you know it. - spoke Tony, annoyed.
Oh, how he hated sounding like his father sometimes. Tony reproached himself, mentally.
A ship appeared behind them and Peter let his guard down, so Tony turned and walked towards it.
-Come on Peter, we'll go to the Tower, get you patched up and go over your backlog of work and then we'll go to your aunt to talk about some issues and apologize. I'll take you to school first thing tomorrow morning and believe me I'll keep an eye on your studies, young man.
-I don't want to go to school... I WANT TO SAVE THE WORLD! - cried the boy between sobs
The man just turned and put him on his shoulder (an act that took Peter by surprise) the armor took the boy's things.
-I DON'T WANT TO GO, MR. STARK! - cried the boy crying and kicking.
- Let me go, let me go, please! - He shouted in tears, which Tony didn't understand why he was crying. So the man ignored him, while slapping him on the butt - which frightened Peter, who almost shrieked - and they boarded the ship, which headed for Avengers Tower.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
- Steve added with his arms crossed, after Tony spoke.
-Wow Tony, finally you say something that he, Captain, agrees with - Clint scoffed, he was sitting in front of the TV on, paying attention to the discussion, so he didn't see the apple that hit him in the head coming.
-Shut the fuck up, Barton - spoke the furious boy, who very reluctantly accepted to be cured by Dr. Helen Cho, who with difficulty was able to cure the boy, who practically would not let himself be touched.
As she was checking and healing him, she scanned him with a small special x-ray apparatus and at the same time made a portable magnetic resonance. The device could also give an approximate time estimate of how much time the wounds had. And without him realizing it, he was able to do a complete scan. And what she saw shocked her, but gave her to understand why the boy was acting so reticent and evasive.
She just wanted to get out of there, go to the bathroom to throw up and call Tony and let him know so he could take over.
- Language, Peter, Clint is older than you and deserves respect - reprimanded the blond.
- Well, I also want to receive it from him - he reproached.
- If you had been my son, I wouldn't have let you answer that way, boy, now be quiet and atone for your mistakes - admonished the man pointing a finger at him, without taking his eyes off the TV.
- Peter, something could have happened to you and no one would have found out - Natasha approached him and sat down next to him.
- Nothing was going to happen to me - he said between murmurs.
- You don't know what may or may not happen, Peter, and that was very careless and irresponsible of you. I am disappointed that you betrayed the trust we had in you that you would not expose yourself to unnecessary danger. I agree with Tony, you will not receive your suit until you demonstrate that we can trust you again and you resume your commitment to your school. There are no buts worthwhile right now, no excuses either. - The redhead said and then got up and went to sit next to Clint.
Peter lowered his head and squeezed his eyes shut. He wasn't going to cry, he wasn't supposed to cry. He didn't when Flash and his team hurt him... hurt him - he didn't dare even think about the correctness of that word without wanting to throw up afterwards - He wouldn't now.
-I don't see any more point in going to a place, which by some miracle doesn't close, the teachers are useless and the classes are boring, the only thing worthwhile were the chemistry and math clubs, but the teachers who were merely competent retired and the clubs closed. There is nothing worthwhile, and after leaving there what? Same old routine, school and home. - the boy said annoyed.
What was the use of lying, if they already knew the truth (that he was running away from school, of course) and did not need to tell what was going on in his daily life.
- JARVIS - Tony called - I want you to get me Peter's attendance list from last year, from the day his academic absences and slumps started.
- I'm sending everything to his tablet, sir. - replied the AI.
The genius grabbed the device and began to review the list.
- A month ago you said you went with Ned to that science expo, was that true?
- Yes I did, but not with Ned. He left the country almost a year ago.
- And your other friends, who did you go with?
- I went to other schools and I went alone - was the simple answer.
- 4 weeks ago, on Tuesday when your aunt was killed, you ran away, after you were in the infirmary, why? It says here that the report the nurse wrote didn't come in.
- I had a cold and was not feeling well. And regarding that report I have no idea what happened. - she said as she looked away, clear evidence that she was lying.
- What happened to the reports before those c's that were lost or didn't arrive, Peter?
- No. I don't. I know. - he replied firmly. He wasn't going to tell.
- Peter, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to answer me honestly," the doctor said, "Are you being bullied at school?
- NO! - he shouted, jumping out of his seat and knocking over the chair.
The room fell silent, staring at the boy.
- Then why do you lie, when they ask for reports? If you are not hiding anything, just say so. What happened to the reports? - the doctor insisted again and gave him a look that implied that she knew more than Tony and the others thought she did.
- I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THOSE STUPID REPORTS AND I DON'T WANT TO KNOW EITHER AND WHEREVER THEY ARE I HOPE THEY STAY THERE! - he shouted looking at her with his eyes flooded with tears, and then ran off to what used to be his room.
Steve tried to hold him back, but the doctor stopped him.
-This is serious, Tony, let me see that list. I already have a list with approximate dates of all the bumps and fractures he's had. I want to compare.
The man handed over the device and she quickly began to check. A quarter of an hour later she turned to them.
- Tony - the woman called out - That boy has 3 bad fractures and I can tell you that they could have been done at his school. The one on his head, it had to have been with a pole, it's 4 months old and if I try to calculate a week it was in this one - she pointed on the screen to a chart showing the first week of school and marked attendance, until Friday when he ran away after 12:30.
- Are you sure it's bullying?
- Look at this fracture of her knee and the sprain, they were done on the same day but it's from 4 weeks ago. The knee had a fracture, from being hit repeatedly with some flat, hard, spiky object. Can you imagine what it would be?
- Football cleats," said Clint angrily.
- Exactly, I can assure you that the sprain occurred when, I imagine, she tried to escape and her foot gave way under her weight. The fractures in his ribs are also from the same day, but I'm sure that was caused by the force of the impact of several footballs. Those are the most serious. Also on certain days that he has been absent and has been around he has taken a lot of hits, but really the worst ones are the ones where he has been present at school and then run away. He has a slight concussion from today, I recommend that he rest tomorrow as well. - The woman rubbed her face and then sighed - Tony, you must talk to his aunt to solve this problem. I wouldn't be surprised if this is why he doesn't want to go to school and feels he has to protect anyone who can't defend himself. That boy tries to alleviate his grief by defending those who can't defend themselves. - He said that last thing and then walked away.
- How can he not defend himself? We have seen the boy fight, in several missions - Clint spoke again.
- No - spoke Steve for the first time in this discussion - we have not seen him fight, we have seen him defend himself with his nets from points outside of rough fighting, but he has never fought like us.
- It can't be - the redhead covered her mouth - he can't defend himself because he doesn't know how to do it without his nets? Peter doesn't control his strength.
- Exactly, we haven't taken the time to do it... Decided, I will talk to Peter's aunt and I will tell him that from now on he will study in another school that meets the standards for a genius like him and not in that useless school - dictated Anthony as he left the room, heading to the boy's room.
But before he could even get to the door his AI notified him from his cell phone that a message from the doctor had sent a message.
He opened the file and that was enough to stop him in his tracks.
Nothing had prepared him for what he would read.
"I'm sorry Tony, I didn't want to say it there in front of the others, out of respect for Peter's privacy, but since you are his mentor, you are well within your rights to know.
It pains me to have to say this, but... Peter has on his body marks of sexual abuse and I think it was between several, since the bites on his body do not match. I want those people to pay correctly for their crime, not to kill them, that's why I am saying this to you.
Atte. Dr. Helen Cho "
How is one supposed to react to this news?
When he saw the MRI photos, he threw his cell phone away as if the device would burn him, not caring who he was in front of.
-Tony, is everything all right? - Steve asked, walking over to where he was standing.
Natasha had grabbed the cell phone after the Stark Reaction and looked at the MRI image without understanding what it meant. Then she came out of the image and read the message, quickly it all made sense and she dropped the cell phone as they froze.
- Steve, don't let her leave the building," she said quickly as she realized what had happened.
- What? why didn't... - he didn't finish, why Natasha ran out of the room and Tony ran after her.
- NATASHA STOP! - He shouted as he ran after her, with the others on his heels. -JARVIS BLOCK THE WHOLE BUILDING, NO ONE GETS IN, NO ONE GETS OUT!
- Stark, open the doors," spoke the redhead in an icy voice.
- Not until you calm down... and Clint calms down - she answered, while she saw the blond squeezing his cell phone between his hands.
- JARVIS blocks this floor and everything that leads to or from it. No one enters and no one leaves this floor.
- "Yes, sir."
- Peter can't leave his room - spoke Steve, who had received the cell phone.
- "Yes, sir."
The four people headed back to the room they had been in a few moments ago. Each one of them looked for a place, and then they stayed looking at each other's faces for almost an hour, since each one of them had different thoughts about the same subject, Peter.
- I've calmed down, Tony, now tell me, can I go out and look for those bastards?
- You don't know who they are - he answered
- I don't need to know their names to find them.
- Stark, you don't have to be a genius to know that those who abused him are the same people who beat him up and who belong to his school's football team. You just have to see who is the leader of that team, ask the right questions and everything else you can imagine - the blond man said.
- We have to do something - Steve said after thinking about it a lot - and we will do it today... JARVIS call Peter's Aunt, we will tell her EVERYTHING.
We will solve this problem and depending on what his aunt decides, we will take care of it or the law will take care of it. - he said in such a serious way that no one could say anything about it.
An hour later Peter's aunt May entered the elevator accompanied by HAPPY.
- If you brought me here to change my mind about this morning, you are making a mistake with... - She was silent as she saw who was in the room.
- I'm sorry, for disturbing you, but that's not why I called you. There is a very delicate matter we need to discuss and it requires your full attention.
- Where is Peter, did something happen to him? - she asked frightened.
- No. Right now he's in his room... The one you have here.
- Why would he have a room in Avengers Tower, I know his internship is here and he sometimes stays here, but not enough to have a room of his own.
- Mrs. May, you know who I am don't you? - Steve asked
The woman nodded silently
-And do you know who these two are? - he asked again
The woman nodded again
-Can you get an idea why you're here?
The woman remained silent, knowing what the captain was getting at. The woman pursed her lips and walked over to an empty chair and took a seat. HAPPY stood behind her for anything.
- Peter... he's Spider-man, right?
- Yes - answered Tony
- Something bad happened to him
- Yes - answered Steve
- Was it really bad?
- ... Yes - answered Clint with gritted teeth.
- How bad?
- It depends on how you look at it - said Natasha passing an iPad to the woman.
- Before you turn on the screen - Tony put his hand on the screen - I want you to know that we found out about an hour ago about all this. I didn't know that Peter wasn't attending classes, since I always helped him with his classes when he asked me to. It all came to light after the message he left in the morning.
- Has Peter been fighting with you?
- The boy has gone with us on minor Missions - Steve replied - JARVIS shows the recording of the last mission.
- "Yes, sir."
In front of May there was a projection of the last mission, where Peter was clearly seen neutralizing the enemy with his nets from a safe point.
- This kind of thing doesn't happen often, they are low risk cases, but where his help is needed out of obligation. Peter has never fought directly in any of his missions, since I've known him until now there have only been 9 and all of them have been like this.
- And so the problem about Peter?
- All you will see is evidence of what happened 4 weeks ago -
- When you stopped attending school
- Yes
Tony removed his hand and May shakily turned on the screen.
He took his time to read all the report made by the doctor, about every bump and fracture. Finally she got to the worst part, what no mother would want to read. She wasn't Peter's mother, she never would be, but that didn't stop her from looking like one, she was the one who raised him since his parents died when he was a 5 year old boy. No one in their right mind would want to read that her son was raped by multiple people.
She covered her face as she cried desolately, her poor Peter.
-We want to know if you want us to take care of it, if so everything will be discreet and nothing will come to light. But if you prefer to involve the authorities, bear in mind that Peter must go to give his testimony of what happened and it is possible that his face and name will appear on a national chain when the press finds out that he was an intern for Stark Industries and they will possibly do one of two things, one they will try to throw dirt on Stark Industries or they will martyr him, even if he is not dead, and they will make him look useless and Pet will not like that - Natasha spoke with a trembling voice.
Before they continued talking, a loud noise in the ceiling caught their attention. A minute later Loki was being followed by Thor and neither of them looked happy.
- Where is the boy? - Loki asked in the coldest way.
- In his room - answered Steve
And this one without anyone could do anything stunned Clint, startling everyone, except Thor, and disappeared.
-Thor? - called his attention Natasha
- We came, because Mother told us that the little spider warrior had suffered serious damage to his soul, we had just arrived when we were informed of such an atrocity, we did not hesitate and came to his aid. Mother also said that the archer, would not hesitate to kill those responsible, even if they were in custody, that we should erase his memories of this moment.
- What will Loki do with Pet? - asked Tony
- He will look for the name of the culprits since the little warrior will not talk to anyone but Loki.
- But I am his aunt... - spoke the chestnut
- And that's why he won't want to worry you," answered the god of thunder.
Everyone in the room was silent, waiting for Loki to return.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
In his room, Peter was lying on his bed face down.
The pain in his head wouldn't stop, Tony had found out everything and everyone was disappointed in him.
Yes, it was true he had lied, but couldn't anyone see that he did nothing wrong? What did school matter, if nothing was worthwhile there?
A knock on his door brought him out of his thoughts.
He wasn't in the mood so he pretended to sleep.
- You know you can't cheat me, I invented the cheating, kid - spoke the black-haired man entering the room.
- Mr. Loki - the boy spoke in surprise.
- Sir, Thor's father, I told you to call me by my name," said Loki with a smile.
Seconds later the side of his bed sank, and the black-haired man's hand slid gently on his head and kept a constant movement, which little by little made him sleepy.
-He had not slept well for a week so he quickly fell into the arms of Morpheus.
-He did not know it, it was that the god of deception put him to sleep with a soft and sharp lullaby that in Asgard mothers sang to their children so that they would sleep peacefully and without any nightmares.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
- Do you have the names of those bastards?
- Of course I do, don't underestimate my abilities.
The same Avengers as before continued in the same position, increasingly eager to hear the information Loki had to give them. Aunt May had decided to leave, but not before telling Tony that, for Peter's sake, not to involve the authorities. It was evident that the reason for her leaving was the guilt and sadness she felt piercing her heart, and that they would end up tearing her apart if she continued to listen to more details about what her little boy had suffered. She couldn't shake the gut-wrenching feeling of having failed Peter, so she needed time to grieve alone. Somehow, Stark understood all this just by looking into his teary eyes, so he made a mental note to let May be the first to talk to the boy when he was feeling... better.
- As you thought, it was the American Football team. Their leader is a certain Flash - The heads of everyone present clicked, especially Stark's. Flash Thompson is the leader of that little group, how had he not seen it coming? He decided to look the other way when Peter told him about his run-ins with him instead of teaching him to control his strength so he could defend himself, and now the situation had escalated too far.
May was definitely no longer the only one feeling the guilt on her.
- It is clear that we all want to act as soon as possible, but no matter how expert we are, we will need a little more information to get it right. While we get it, try to rest - Tony left the room leaving a feeling in those present that did not encourage calm at all.
The millionaire was completely consumed by rage, but fortunately or unfortunately he had one person who knew him well enough to smell what he was up to.
- Tony, we agreed that if we acted everything would be discreet - Steve closed the door of the shared bedroom and walked firmly towards his partner.
- Let's be discreet, but not soft.
- We mustn't do anything wild, we are the Avengers and they are kids - The blond stretched out his hand with the intention of giving Tony support, but in return he received a not so gentle push.
- They're bullies, not kids! Don't even think of asking me to find civilized solutions to all the damage those creeps have caused.
- Tony, just now you were the one trying to calm Natasha and Clint down, you know very well that you can't make decisions without calming down.
- Not in a thousand years am I going to give up. We can act in the shadows with most of the guys, but we're going to teach Flash a fucking lesson and no amount of talk about what's morally right will change that. Besides, I have it on good authority that in their nuclear family they're no saints either, it wouldn't hurt to get what's coming to them.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
The victim of the boys the Avengers were after woke up after many hours of sleep. He was very upset, although sleeping for more than an hour at a stretch for the first time in months had helped him quite a bit. As soon as he woke up he had a very painful talk with May in which he tried to convince her that he was all right. He ate a little at the request of the adults with him and went back to his room to try to sleep, as he had nothing else to do either.
It wasn't too long before he recognized a certain scent of expensive perfume entering the room. As he did earlier, he pretended to be asleep in the hope that Tony wouldn't notice.
- Pete... - Stark advanced to the bundle wrapped in sheets on the bed - I know you're awake, but whatever, you don't need to talk if you don't want to. I'm not here to interrogate you about anything, and I'm sorry we had to do it before... - He paused to think about his words - I want you to know that you have people supporting you. I understand all the reactions you've had, especially the one about increasing your outlets as Spider-man.
" I think I sense how you feel, and no, no one blames you for what happened or feels disappointed. I know at the beginning we didn't convey that feeling talking to you, and I'm sorry for that too. We didn't know the full context and were really concerned. Please don't continue to be defensive, okay? All the people you've dealt with today just want to help... - He closed his "speech" expecting some kind of reaction that didn't come, so he simply left the room.
Tony hoped he had reassured the boy somewhat, as there were a lot of things to talk about, and with his recent behavior and all the misunderstandings from the conversation a few hours ago he wasn't going to get anywhere. With the matter of the boys on the football team settled, his only concern was Peter.
As she finally found herself walking through the door of the place, she heard a sob that hurt her more than anything else. She fought her impulses to run to hug Peter and left, locking the door behind her. Physical contact now was not the best option, and it would do no good to show him more support if the teenager hadn't had his space to think. There was still the possibility that Peter would continue to refuse help and not give details of anything, which terrified his mentor too much.
- I hope you understand that we really care about you, brat.
{} {} {} {} {} {} {} {}
It took 24 hours for Peter to get up the courage to talk to the adults again. He rather regretted being defensive most of the time, so he couldn't help but burst into tears when he thought Tony had left the room. He had been trying to hold back the tears for several situations, and the apology and support that Stark had promised he wanted to give him was the last straw. The brown-haired man felt that crying as a release of all the weight he was carrying so that he could finally let himself be helped.
When the teenager went to talk to Tony, he refused to take him to school and never again referred to the suit as a "punishment". No one blamed him for anything and everyone was trying to help him, which made him want to cry once again, although he wouldn't.
He began working with Nat so that he could defend himself under normal circumstances without running the risk of doing more damage than necessary with his excessive strength. He went for almost daily check-ups with Dr. Cho, who also introduced him to a psychologist he saw about five or six times a month.
Tony arranged to get him into a really good school, and he only set foot in his old high school again when he went to pick up his things. To his surprise, most of the members of the football team were not there. Almost all of them had been permanently expelled. In Flash's case, he would not be going back to school for other reasons, as his family could not afford to pay for his education after being sued over some business dealings of his father's that were uncovered by someone anonymous and which brought them practically to ruin.
Although he had surprisingly made some new friends, May made an effort to contact Ned to continue their friendship and promised her nephew that they would make a trip to see him in person. Peter continued to want to save the world, so as soon as his health was good and Tony gave him the suit, he increased his patrols and internships with Avengers supervision. He was becoming more and more motivated and wanted to do all the police work on his own, but this time he had people overseeing his welfare before letting him look out for the welfare of others.
In the end that's what characterizes our dear friend and neighbor Spider-man, isn't it?
I want to save the world, even if he who needs someone to save him.