Chapter Five

Peter knew that it was childish, but he couldn't help, but pout even if he was sure that Happy was rolling his eyes in front of him. A physical? He had been so excited about spending some time with Mr. Stark and instead he had to waste his day off work spending it with Dr. Banner.

Not that Peter didn't like Dr. Banner, he did but he knew of better things to do on a day off. The air conditioning hit Peter's face the minute that he came in. "Second floor, third door on the left, kid." Happy said.

"Where do I-"

"Second floor, third door. It's easy, get Friday to help you out." Happy said crisply as he turned his back on Peter to answer his ringing phone. Peter gave an irritated sigh and he hoped that his bad mood would evaporate. It wasn't Dr. Banner's fault that he was going to be stuck doing a physical today.

Dr. Banner had been reading a copy of US Weekly and munching on a chocolate chip cookie when Peter entered the room and Peter gave him a weak smile. "Peter!" he gave Peter a hug, surprising him. "Nice to finally see you again! Considering everything that-" he trailed off, giving Peter an awkward smile.

"Yeah, Thanos." Peter shifted uncomfortably. "Where is Mr. Stark?"

"Pepper dragged him to some meeting in the city," Bruce said as he started getting everything ready. Peter winced as he saw the needles. He could take bullets in the chest, but he freaked out when he saw needles. God, he was such a baby. "He should be back in an hour. We should be done by then and then you and Tony can focus on whatever it is you're working on. Oh, and don't kill the messenger, but this wasn't my idea."

"It was Mr. Stark's?" Peter was both surprised and hurt. He hated being treated like he was some kind of in defensive child even if he was under age. If Bruce noticed the disappointment in his voice he didn't notice. "Why?"

"He wants to know more about you, Peter. The spider part of you." Bruce smiled as he started checking Peter's ears and eyes. "You might not think so, but Tony is quite a worrywart."

He winced as Bruce got a needle and took out some of his blood. He was gentle, though. "Not a fan of needles?"

"No." he admitted with a shaky laugh. "Give me a bullet any other day of the week."

Bruce chuckled. "You're just like the others, there will be one day when you will not be able to rely on brute strength." He checked his pulse and heart. "Hey, Peter I know that the last months have been difficult for lack of a better word, but how have you've been feeling, mentally I mean? Have you've been feeling anxious? Depressed?"

Peter thought back to Thanos. How he felt himself slipping. The scared look in Mr. Stark's eyes. Waking up and getting used to being alive again. Waking up in the middle of the night out of breath and anxious. Scott entering so soon into their lives. His eyes on Peter every time he quipped at May. His hands on his throat-"

"Peter, Pete." Bruce interrupted his train of thoughts gently. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine, Dr. Banner. I just spaced out because of the whole needle thing." He gave him a brittle smile. "I'm fine, Dr. B, happy as a clam. What's next?"

"That's it." Dr. Banner said. "Tony will input your blood in Friday's system. In case anything happens and let's hope that it doesn't then we will have all that information to us available. You know just in case of emergencies, so we don't overdose you."

"Well, this was fine." Peter said as he put on his jacket. "We should do this again some time."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "You and Tony are made for each other. He's in lab number 3, fifth floor." He paused. "Peter, what's that on your neck?"

Peter could feel the hairs on the back of his neck rise up, crap were the fingermarks still there. He had been hoping that they were gone. He checked himself in the mirror and saw there the marks on his neck were still slightly pink. He counted five. "They are hickeys." He flushed as he looked at the floor. "From kissing."

"Oh," Dr. Banner looked equally embarrassed and didn't bother looking at them any closer. "Thank you for the clarification. Well, Peter you are a growing boy and what you choose to do is your business, but there is some pamphlets for you to read." Bruce said and Peter basically shoved the safe sex pamphlets in his bag. He would never hear the end of it if Tony saw them.

Peter pulled up his jacket up to hide the fingermarks on his neck as he knocked on the door. Queen was playing so loud, he felt like his ears were going to fall off.

"Parker!" Tony called out over the loud music. "Get your ass in here."

"Hi," Peter said as he looked at the table in front of Tony, it was covered with so many high tech gear that Peter felt like he was inside a Best Buy. "What are we working on today?"

"First thing first," Tony said as he offered Peter a licorice stick. "You didn't put up much a fuss with Bruce, right? I know it's annoying, but it's for your own good kid."

Peter flushed. "Of course not." Why did Tony think he was an unruly toddler?

"Good," Tony said as he started flickering through the screens until he landed on one that said PETER B. Parker. Peter saw different styles of the suit in front of him. "I was thinking we could work on a new suit for you today."

"Why?" Peter was generally curious. "I like the Iron Spider suit."

"Aw, I'm flattered." Tony pretended to be touched. "But that doesn't mean that we can't make it better. Besides it's good to have a few extra suits just in case something happens. Believe me, I speak from experience and this time you are going to built it from scratch. Based on my technology of course."

Peter's eyes widened when he saw all of the options that Tony offered for his new suit. Hidden weapons, different materials for the suit, language translation, poison repellants. Tony puffed up his chest. "It's like Build a Bear. You choose what you want to add, just stick with the red and blue. It's a classic."

"Wow," Peter said as he touched the screen. "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

Tony looked slightly embarrassed. "It's not that big of a deal, kid."

For the next three hours they worked in silence, until Tony told him that they should take a break for Thai food. Peter picked at his rice while Tony scarfed down his food. "I have to say, kid. I'm glad you came here, you look less anxious."

Peter stiffened. "Was I anxious before?"

"No, just worried." Tony said gently. "Look, Pete I know that the last few months have been hard for you, but they will get better. Trust me, soon you won't remember Thanos."

-End of Chapter Five-

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