Chapter Ten

Peter didn't want a new suit. He told this to Mr. Stark various times, but he might as well be talking to a damn wall, because Tony insisted no, ordered him to stand next to him as they built his new suit together.

"Your old suit is falling apart." Tony lovingly showed him all the features they could use to upgrade his suit like a loving parent. "Do you want to get stabbed, kid?"

"Of course not." Peter looked reluctantly as Tony's machines carefully stitched his navy blue, red, and black suit together. "But my suit is working just fine. I've used it for months. If worse comes to worst. I'll just go to the fabric store. They have a 2 for 1 sale every Tuesday."

Tony paled as he gave Peter a dreary look. "I am going to pretend you did not just say that. Anyhow a prodigy of mine will not be flying around in a cheap suit from the ninety-nine-cent store. I'm telling you, Peter, once we finish your suit you will be kissing my feet."

Peter rolled his eyes but didn't argue. It seemed pointless to argue with Tony because he would never win. He was just as stubborn as May. Just as stubborn as Peter. Perhaps it was why they were at each other's throats so much.

"Tony, it's late. Unless you want to invite Peter to a sleepover he needs to go home now. Queens is not exactly around the corner." Peter heard the click clack of heels as a woman wearing a tailored suit with her strawberry blond hair in a ponytail entered the room.

She looked exhausted, but a pleasant smile was on her face. Peter recognized her immediately; she was Pepper Potts otherwise known as Tony Stark's moral compass.

Peter looked at his phone and found it was past ten in the evening. He didn't have any missed calls from May and his heart sank, she was probably having too much fun on her date to worry about him.

"Shoot, sorry kid." Tony stood up and Peter followed him. He placed a hand on Peter's shoulder. He was weirdly touchy like that, then again when people heard Peter had lost his mother, father, and uncle they tended to treat him like a chihuahua who was about to have a nervous breakdown. "Peter, this is Stark Enterprises' CEO and the love of my life."

Ms. Potts rolled her eyes, but there was a slight smile on her face. "Nice to meet you, Peter. Please call me Pepper. No need for formalities."

"It's nice to meet you," Peter said politely, though he already knew he was bound to call her Ms. Potts. May had drilled into him that he should call every person by Mr./Ms./Mrs. and even Tony who could be kind of a jerk sometimes still had Peter calling him "Mr. Stark."

Peter felt Tony give his shoulder a squeeze and he tried not to wince because that's where a large welt was currently located.

"Come on, kid let's go. We can finish the suit next time."

Tony drove Peter home in a new Italian sports car which hadn't even been released in the United States yet. Thankfully, Peter didn't have to do any of the talking because Tony could pretty much talk to himself.

"Thank you for the ride," Peter replied politely as he parked in front of the apartment building.

"No, problem kid," Tony paused. "Look, I know you think I'm being fussy, but I am trying to help. Being a superhero is not easy in this town, especially as a fourteen-year-old. The Avengers have your back, the whole training and building you a suit is for your own good. Trust me."

Peter wanted to say that he didn't trust him, especially when they had only known each other for a few days, but he didn't want to be rude. He simply waved at Tony.

He walked back to his apartment and as he stood in front of apartment 15P he fumbled inside his pockets for a key. Before he could open the apartment door the door jammed open, and he felt himself being pulled in by his T-shirt.

Peter winced when Jake slammed the door behind him. He pressed Peter against the wall, and he yelped when he felt his welted back touch the wall. Only the light in the hallway was on, he could hear May's soft snoring coming from the closed door. She was asleep. She must have drunk too much and Jake had tucked her into bed. She had always been a lightweight.

"What did you tell him?" he hissed at Peter. His breath smelled like vodka. He gripped Peter's shirt tighter in his fist, afraid he was going to rip it. "What did you tell Stark?"

Jake grabbed Peter's thin shoulders and shook him as if he were a rag doll. "Nothing! Nothing I swear! I didn't tell him what you did to me." I didn't tell him that you hurt me, he wanted to scream, but he didn't have the guts to do it so near May. Jake would probably beat him to a bloody pulp if he tried.'

Peter knew he was an idiot. That he should have hurt Jake back, he was Spiderman. He was stronger than him. He could crush his jaw if he wanted to. May had always told him to tell her if someone hurt him. To tell anyone. He could have told May. Tony. Wanda. Ned. MJ. But he didn't. He kept his mouth shut, now he had to take his medicine for his cowardice.

The flushed look on Jake's face disappeared as he let Peter go. Peter rubbed his neck feeling defeated. "You better keep your mouth shut," he threatened darkly. "No one would believe you even if you opened your stupid mouth. Who would believe a kid? Besides you wouldn't want to hurt your aunt would you, Pete? First her husband died, then her second husband was accused of doing something terrible, something he couldn't possibly have done with his stellar reputation. Two husbands lost because of the same brat. How positively dreadful."

Peter's lower lip trembled; Jake wasn't terribly wrong. Uncle Ben had died because of Peter, he had picked up Peter after playing with Ned all day. If Peter wouldn't have been born then Uncle Ben would be alive, May would be happy.

Tears stung Peter's eyes. "I won't say anything," he choked out. Again.

This time Jake did seem to believe him. He patted Peter's arm, the welts stinging from when he had been shoved. He needed more ointment, the welts had been slowly disappearing due to his healing, but the stinging and soreness remained.

"Go to bed!" Jake barked as Peter practically ran to his room.

Peter closed the door behind him and pressed his back against the door. He could feel his heartbeat rapidly inside his chest. Sweat clung to his forehead and his hands felt clammy. He was safe. For now.

-End of Chapter Ten-

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