Chapter Eleven
Something smelled like vanilla, cologne, and anti bacterial soap. Peter could hear voices around him, but for some reason he couldn't quite place them. They all seemed to jumble in his head especially since he felt half asleep.
"Will you stop hovering please?" he finally placed Bruce's voice. He sounded irritated and stressed. "I kind of need space if I am going to do this, Tony. You breathing down my neck is not going to make me move any faster."
"I just want to make sure that you are doing it right."
"I am doing it right. Trust me."
"What experience do you even have with a spider kid? I mean sometimes I feel that the kid is a walking accident waiting to happen. Don't you think we should call Helen-"
"Tony."
"Sorry," Tony did sound apologetic. "I don't mean to sound like an asshole, I was just-I'm just-I'm worried."
Bruce softened a bit and Peter fought the sleep that his body desperately wanted because he wanted to hear the rest of the conversation. Peter pretended to be asleep so that Bruce and Tony had no idea that he was half awake. "I know you're worried about Peter and that you care about him, but these situations are going to happen and you can't freak out every time that they do."
"I know." Tony paused. "I know they are going to happen, but it doesn't make it any easier, Bruce. Just look at him, I'm amazed that he can even walk. How do you think it happened-some kind of leather or thick rope."
"I don't know, maybe. I'm just concerned about how long it is taking to heal. It is usually faster than this."
"But it is healing, right?"
"It is healing." Bruce assured him. "It's just taking a bit longer than usual, it's a little odd, but perhaps of the severity of it. The aftercare that I gave him of the cleaning of the wounds and the medicine should help him get up on his feet soon."
"Do you think I should call, May?"
"Maybe not yet," Bruce replied, "Let's not worry her until we have too. Come on, Tony. I think its better if we let Peter sleep for a few hours. We should give the others an update so that they don't worry."
Peter waited a few seconds after he heard Bruce and Tony leave before he blew a sigh of relief and opened his eyes. He felt dizzy and embarrassed, but mostly panicked. What the hell was he supposed to do know? How was he supposed to mention the belt marks? What if they guessed it was Scott?
Peter had never been very good at lying and he had been amazed that May hadn't found out he was Spiderman sooner. He slowly stood up, careful not to make a lot of noise just in case Bruce or any of the Avengers were lingering in the hallway. He went to the mirror to inspect his back and saw that Bruce had covered it in some sticky, yellow lotion. Bruce has covered his back with bandages and the pain had subsided. It no longer stung as much, but that was just the beginning on an array of problems.
He rested his head against the mirror. What was supposed to be his story?
Peter knew that he couldn't hide forever especially since it was almost 8pm and dinner was surely almost over. Not to mention that May was probably expecting him soon, she had slowly started warming up to Tony, but to be fair he still wasn't the most responsible person even if he acted like a helicopter parent when it came to Peter. Peter wondered briefly if he couldn't just sneak out, but that would just have made Tony even more suspicious which was what Peter was trying to avoid.
For the past few hours he had tried to come up with a lie, but so far he had grown unsuccessful. His back was no longer hurting as much and for that he was grateful whatever ointment that Bruce had used was a total lifesaver, now if only he could avoid the conversation that his mentor would surely want to have with him.
Just tell him, the same annoying little voice told him. Tell him what has been happening, tell him that Scott beats you. If someone can get away with murder it would be Mr. Stark.
There was a knock on the door and Peter sat up like a whipped cat. "Come in," he said trying to hide the shakiness in his voice. It was Tony. He slowly came in and he had that concerned look on his face. He was frowning which made him look older than he actually was.
He seemed to be relieved that Peter was awake, but feeling equally as awkward as him. "How are you feeling, kid?"
"Better," Peter tried to ignore the edge to his voice. "The ointment that Dr. Banner used was very helpful."
"That's Bruce for you, he always finds something that works." Tony started playing with the rose petals from the bouquet at the corner of the room. "So we need to talk. I think that you know that we need to talk otherwise you wouldn't been making such a horrible attempt at small talk." Peter flinched and Tony winced. "Damn, kid are you that afraid of me?"
"No," he blurted out. "Of course not."
"Stop apologizing," Tony said sounding more hash that he had anticipated. "You have nothing to apologize for." He sat at the edge of the bed. "Now, would you mind telling me what the hell happened? You scared the living shit out of me, kid."
"I'm so-" Peter straightened up and tried to control his trembling voice while at the same time trying to avoid eye contact with his mentor. "I got in over my head, I was trying to stop a bank robbery and there were more guys than I anticipated, and they started hitting me with. . .stuff. I was a bit off my game. But it's nothing I swear."
Peter wasn't sure if Tony believed him especially since he was still looking at him with that perplexed look on his face. He finally sighed and said. "Kid, you need to be careful. Honestly, the people out there are more dangerous than you think."
"Can't be more dangerous than, Thanos," Peter quipped. "I'm stronger that I look, Mr. Stark."
Tony snorted. "What did they hit you with-Bruce thought it was a belt-"
"A little bit of everything," he said trying to calm down his nervous voice. "Uh, a chain, a tire belt, you know stuff-"
Tony mumbled something under his breath. He looked at Peter again and it looked like he wanted to say something, but then he didn't. "Come on, let's get you home kid before your aunt kills us both. I'll ask Bruce to give you some of that ointment so that you can take it home. Oh, and Peter I am begging you stop doing reckless things."
A few days later Peter was in the school bathroom after getting a pass from Mrs. Wilkinson. He lifted up his sweater vest and glanced at himself in the mirror. The dark red marks caused by Scott's belt had slowly turned a light pink almost flesh color thanks to Bruce's ointment. Thank god.
"Damn, Parker," Flash hissed as he exited the stall. Peter had been so concentrated on his marks that he hadn't even bothered checking if anyone was there. Flash had never been Peter's biggest fan, but right now he was looking at him with his usual mix of disgust and pity. Peter quickly put down his shirt, his cheeks flushed pink.
"What the hell happened to you?"
-End of Chapter Eleven-
Thank you so much for your support and patience! I apologize for the long wait, it has been crazy with school and the holidays. Thank you!
