Chapter Sixteen
Peter stared at his lap as he heard Aunt May greet Dr. Banner with cheerful ignorance. She could practically feel Scott's eyes on him and he couldn't help, but feel annoyed at May. Why had she had brough him? Why did she have to make a mountain out of a molehill? And why couldn't she stop fussing over Peter as if he were a child?
"Good afternoon, you must be Scott," Dr. Banner said politely as he shook Scott's hand.
Scott's voice became pleasant as he shook his hand. "Yes, Scott that is correct. I've been dating May for the past few months and I've been staying here ever since May broke her arm. It's very nice of you to come all the way from HQ, Dr. Banner. I know it's a long journey, but unfortunately our little Peter here seems to be a bit of an accident prone. Doesn't have an ounce of luck."
Dr. Banner ruffled Peter's hair as he pulled out the dining room chair and sat across Peter who still was not looking at him. "My pleasure, besides that's why I'm here for, especially-"May widened her eyes and shook her head as she motioned towards Scott and Peter winced, the last thing he needed was for Scott to find out his secret identity. Knowing him he would probably be spreading it all over town. "-Since we've become so closed ever since he accepted the Stark Internship." He finished as he fumbled with his medical bag.
"I'm fine, Dr. Banner," Peter finally found his voice as he looked at his aunt. "This was unnecessary."
"Just let me take a look, Peter." Bruce said gently as he tilted his chin in his direction. "You and I have very different definitions for the word "fine" I'm afraid." He frowned as he looked at Peter's bruised face that were nowhere closed to healing. "Wow, they did quite a work on you. You said they did this while you were coming back home?"
"Yes, as I was returning from the grocery store where I work," Peter said carefully, the fake story playing on his tongue. "I was mugged, they didn't take anything of value, but you can see the damaged they did-"
May and Bruce exchanged knowing looks, "Dr. Banner, why don't you take a look at Peter in his room, you will probably have more privacy there. Scott and I can clean up here." Bruce nodded and Peter reluctantly followed him to his bedroom.
"You're looking at me like you're expecting a spanking," Bruce said lightly trying to lighten the mood, but it proved to be fruitless. "I'm just trying to lighten the mood, you've been tensed since I got here. You do know that I don't mind coming here, right? Let's face it I have nowhere else to go and the alternative was a microwaved dinner."
"That's a lie," Peter said as he sat at the edge of his bed as Bruce sat across from him. He pulled out a small flashlight from his medical bag and begin examining him. "Mr. Stark would have made you something if you asked."
"Tony will one day succeed in giving us food poisoning." Bruce said with a smile. "Well the good thing is that you have no concussion, your face is pretty bruised though. I would have thought they would have healed by now if this happened more than 24 hours ago."
"I think my healing is in a weird funk right now." Peter winced as Dr. Banner put some kind of cream on the bruise on his eye. "It's taking a little longer than usual. But I think it's because I pick on them." He lied.
Dr. Banner put a bandaged over his cheek. "Was this really a robbery or something to do with the amazing Spiderman that you don't want your aunt to know about? I'm assuming her boyfriend doesn't know?"
"No, and I would like to keep it that way," Peter said an edge to his voice. "Please. It was a robbery, even the amazing Spiderman has his off days."
Bruce nodded. "Are there any bruises anywhere else?"
"Nope, just on my pretty face." He lied and Bruce rolled his eyes playfully. "Seriously, Aunt May was exaggerating."
"She cares about you, Peter as do I." Bruce said gently as he grabbed his stuff. "Anything else I should be concern about? You seemed a bit peaked, are you sure that you're eating right? Getting enough rest?"
Peter nodded. "Junior year. I'm a little stressed, but I'm fine, it's just- it's a lot sometimes-"
Bruce nodded as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "I get it it's tough, but it's good for you to have some time for yourself. I can't legally write you a prescription, but I'll send an email to Dr. Strange or Dr. Cho to prescribe some vitamins and some painkillers. Why don't you come to HQ tomorrow? We can have lunch. It's been a while since you've been there and I'm sure Wanda and Tony would love to see you."
"Ok," Peter straightened up when he couldn't think of a decent excuse. "I'll be there."
"Steve, could I borrow Wanda tomorrow?" Bruce asked Steve as soon as he returned from the Parkers. Steve was in the mist of trying to figure out his new StarkPad that Tony had given him as a Christmas present.
Steve frowned. "Why? You know that she has training tomorrow."
"What about Wanda?" Tony asked as he suddenly came into the room, he was tinkering on something that looked like an odd toaster. "Where were you, Banner? I've been looking for you all evening."
"I went to the Parkers." Bruce said shortly and when Tony raised an eyebrow, Bruce elaborated. "May called, Peter was mugged-" Tony dropped whatever he was holding and he had been about to reprimand Bruce for keeping him in the dark when Bruce said. "Relax, he's fine. He only has a couple of bruises, they should heal on their own within the next few days, I had Strange prescribe him a couple of pain killers."
"I still don't see why you need Wanda."
"I invited Peter for lunch tomorrow," Bruce said with a shrug. "He looked a bit sad and I though Wanda could cheer him up. They are always being silly together. I hope that's ok."
"Of course it's ok, it's been a while since I've seen the squirt." Tony tried to hide the fact that he was hurt that Peter himself hadn't informed him about being mugged. He was used to receiving messages from Peter every time he bought a pencil. Though he had been radio silent for the past few months. "Yes, lunch is fine. Anything else I should know about, you have the I-sucked-on-a-lemon-face."
"It's just-" Bruce trailed off. "I can't help, but feel that something is wrong. Peter just seemed odd, not his usual self. I don't know how to explain it exactly."
Steve and Tony exchanged looks. "Any way we can help, Bruce?"
"That's the thing, I know something is wrong, but I don't know what."
-End of Chapter Sixteen-
Wow, I can't believe that it's been more than a month since I last updated : (
I hope everyone is doing well, thanks for your patience : )
