Chapter Eighteen

"This movie is lame," Wanda said as she wrinkled her nose and stared at her flatscreen tv. The black and white version of Breakfast at Tiffany's was on the television while Peter and Wanda shared a bowl of popcorn. It was the most relax that Peter had felt since Scott had beaten him. Vision had insisted on cooking them lunch so it was going to take more time than usual for lunch to be ready. "I don't understand how Dr. Banner can say it's good."

Peter snorted as he shoved a hand full of popcorn in his mouth. "Maybe because he was alive when the film was probably made."

Wanda giggled as she took a sip of her soda. "This is nice. It's been a while since we've hung out like this Peter. We need to this more often. At least once a month, promise?"

Peter nodded. "Promise. I missed you too, Wanda."

Wanda curled her toes inside her fuzzy socks. "So what have you've been up to? Dr. Banner said that you've gotten into a couple of scrapes."

Peter looked at his lap and tried to add nonchalant as he ate more popcorn out of nervousness. "Oh, people are a little bit more rough than usual. Nothing that I can't handle though. Ever since Thanos was killed things have been a little quiet. It seems that I'm out of practice." Peter tried to keep his thoughts clear and tried to keep his anxiety from showing. The last thing that he needed was for Wanda to catch on to what was really happening in his life.

Wanda nodded. "Things almost feel too quiet, I've been bored out of my mind at the compound. No wonder we've both gotten soft. We need some self-defense training."

"Lunch is served."

Peter jumped nearly half a mile when Vision appeared in his usual sweater vest and slack combo. Wanda who was apparently used to this simply rolled his eyes. "Vision, we've talked about this before don't come into the room without knocking. You nearly cause Peter to fall out of his chair."

"Sorry," Vision said apologetically. "Everyone is joining us for lunch. I made pasta, its my specialty dish."

"The only dish he doesn't burn." Wanda whispered to Peter under her breath and Peter giggled. They went into the dining room and saw Natasha, Steve, Bucky, Bruce, Tony, and Vision sitting down. There were plates of pasta, bowls of salad, and baskets filled with garlic bread. Despite Wanda's doubts the food smelled delicious.

"Grab a plate," Tony said as he gave them each a plate. "And sit down before these guys scarf everything down. We weren't expecting a full house."

"Long time no see, Parker." Natasha said as she filled a glass of wine. "We were afraid that you've fallen off the face of the earth."

"Nothing like that." Peter said. "I've just been busy with schools and the upcoming SAT's. You can thank Dr. Banner for bringing me in."

"And I picked him up and drove him." Tony chirped in helpfully.

Peter was filling his plate with pasta when Bruce asked the following question. "Peter, did Dr. Strange stop by to give you the pain pills?" This caught everyone's attention and cause Peter's cheeks to redden. He would have thrown Bruce a dirty look, but he didn't want to be rude. Peter nodded slowly.

Steve frowned. "Why do you need pain pills? You have healing abilities that heal your injuries faster than all of us put together."

He could practically feel Tony's eyes burning at the back of his head as Peter picked at his salad. "I've gotten a bit sloppy that's all. Some guys landed a punch on me once or twice," he said quickly. "It's not a big deal. My healing is taking a little longer to heal than usual. I think it's because I haven't been in anything big in a while."

"Peter," Tony shook his head looking both annoyed and concern. "You need to stop biting off more than you can chew. Honestly, the last thing that I want is for me to find you beaten to death in some creepy alley."

Natasha pointed a fork towards Peter. "You know what you need? You need training. You're pretty good at throwing punches Peter, but I noticed that your self defense needs improvement. Even though this is a time of peace we can't afford you to be sloppy."

"We can give you some pointers, Pete." Steve said. "Just so that you are properly protected and not end up covered in bruises."

Peter though of Scott and how he had put his hands on Peter at least three times ever since he had started dating May. He had been afraid of killing him, that's why he hadn't defended himself. Afraid of becoming a murderer. Afraid of May hating him, but self defense wasn't wrong and Steve would teach him ways not to accidently kill. Peter nodded.


"Can you teach us some moves that you learned when you were with HYDRA, Mr. Barnes?" Peter blurted out once they got to the training center. Bucky looked weary and Steve threw him a warning look. Peter started backpedaling. "Sorry, I just thought it would be useful."

Bucky shook his head, he was dressed too casually in a pair of sweatpants and a black t shirt. "I don't mind, Pete."

Tony snorted. "Don't worry Pete, if the Winter Soldier is too afraid to show you a trick or two Steven and I are more than happy to take over-" Tony didn't finish his sentence because at that moment Bucky wrapped his metal arm around his neck in a chokehold. He had done it so fast that Peter barely had time to blink. Before he knew it his mentor was on his back.

Bucky looked up at Peter smirking. "That's how you do it, any questions?"

"That's not fair," Tony complained as he rubbed his neck. "He has a metal arm, that doesn't give him the right to act like Buffy the vampire slayer."

"Well villains aren't always fair," Steve said dryly. "Come here, Peter let me show you a few things."

For the next hour Steve, Bucky, and Tony took time teaching Peter several defense techniques that he could use. They mainly concentrated on his face since Tony said that Peter apparently had a face that villains loved to punch.

Peter wiped the sweat off his brow during their break as he faced Steve. "Captain Rogers, the serum that you had inserted in the forties gave you beyond human strength. How do you learn how to control it with other normal humans?"

Steve paused for a second as he took a sip of water. "It took me a while, especially when people made me upset, but what I learned is that I should think before using any brute strength. Believe me Peter when I say that the more minimum strength that we use on any other humans the better. Sometimes a quick shove gets them thinking that they can't mess with us."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Ok, you two stop bragging. Come on, Peter I think Natasha wants to show you how to throve knives."

-End of Chapter Eighteen-

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