A/N: Here's chapter nine. :) Hope ya like it!

Disclaimer: Don't own it.

Nine

"How was your day?" Fitz asked when Peter walked into the lab after school.

Peter groaned. They were in Tony's lab, as Tony had said he wanted to get to know the people on his team, to which Fury and Coulson gladly agreed to.

"That bad, huh?" Tony asked from a few feet away.

Peter shook his head and Tony ruffled his hair in a consoling manner.

"In almost every class," he told them, "someone asked me if I was a secret government spy or... an assassin."

Fitz looked up from whatever he was working on, his eyes filled with concern. He knew how much Peter hated that word, almost as much as he hated himself after taking a life. He knew how much guilt the teen carried around every day, and it pained the older man to see the kid he considered a baby brother beat himself up over it.

"Look at me, Peter," he said, his Scottish voice filled with warmth and kindness. He took the younger boy by the shoulders and turned him to face him. Tony watched, curious as to what was going on. "You are not an assassin. You're a hero, and a right good one at that. Don't torture yourself over this, you're just doing your job."

Peter sighed, his posture- which was usually stiff and alert- sagging as he finally ran out of energy for the day.

"I know," he whispered, looking at Fitz with a small smile. "Their questions just reminded me of all the blood I have on my hands, that's all."

Tony set down the rag he was using to wipe his hands and walked over to the two.

"You're young, Pete," the billionaire said softly, using his hand to push Peter's hair off of his forehead. "I feel horrible you have to deal with this kind of stuff."

Peter chuckled.

"Don't be, Mr. Stark," he replied, shaking his head. "It's part of the job. I'm willing to pay the price if it means a few more people can sleep well knowing they're safe."

Tony gave a breathy laugh, his eyes twinkling.

"Kid," he said, pulling the teen in for a hug, "you're one of a kind."

Peter relaxed into the embrace, his eyes closing, letting the smell of cologne and motor oil calm his nerves. Fitz smiled warmly at the sight of the mentor and mentee.

"Aye," he agreed with Tony quietly, his fingers brushing lightly over Peter's shoulder. "That he is."

~:~

Peter opened his eyes the next morning...

And screamed.

Loudly.

"Daisy!" he screeched, pulling up the blanket to cover his bare chest as the young woman doubled over in laughter. "Don't do that!"

"What happened?!" someone yelled, and a moment later, Phil Coulson was racing into the room, breathing heavily, his white shirt half unbuttoned and his hair unruly. "Peter? Wha- Who screamed?!"

Then Coulson's eyes landed on Daisy, laughing her head off on the floor, and Peter's shell-shocked, embarrassed expression.

"Oh," he took several deep breaths as footsteps were heard racing down the hall. "So… no one's dying? Okay. Good."

"Who screeched like a little girl?" Clint asked, his head popping around the corner as Coulson left (he was shaking his head, his hand massaging his temples because Daisy's prank kept waking the poor leader up at unholy hours of the morning).

"That…. That would be…" Daisy gasped uncontrollably as she burst into another fit of snorting and giggles, "That would be Peter!"

Clint let out a honking laugh as soon as the words left the girl's lips.

"Don't worry, guys!" he shouted, while laughing, down the hall. "No one died! Pete was just the victim of another prank!"

Several loud laughs were heard down the hall, and Peter scowled as he got out of bed.

"Yeah, a very annoying prank," he grumbled. "I need to get dressed, so everybody get out."

Finally, a few minutes later, everyone left his room, and Peter was left on his own. After he took a shower, brushed his teeth, got dressed, and managed to get his bed head under control, he excited his room.

He was wearing black jeans, a black belt, and a white, collared button-down that was a little tight on him (although most of his clothes were). The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his watch rested- like always- on his wrist.

He rubbed his eyes, and when he saw Daisy and Clint snickering to themselves he shook his head and sighed in exasperation.

"I'm getting breakfast," he said, walking past them.

He grabbed a bagel once he reached the kitchen, stuffing it into his mouth as he opened the fridge to grab a water.

He turned around, water in hand and bagel in mouth, and was greeted by…

A banana to the face.

The fruit smacked him across the cheek, nearly knocking the bagel from between his teeth, falling to the ground with a muffled splat.

Peter opened his eyes slowly and grabbed his bagel, and when he saw his attacker, the anger immediately died down.

"May!"
His aunt stood in front of him, her hands pressed against her mouth and guilty laughter in her eyes.

"I'm sorry!" she chuckled, "I thought you would be able to sense that with your Peter tingle!"

He smiled sheepishly.

"It's too early in the morning for it to work right now," he joked. "What are you doing here?"

She grinned.

"I wanted to surprise you! I don't see you around the apartment as often because you're always over here or out doink Spider stuff, so I thought…"

His eyes softened as he looked at her. May really was the best.

"Thanks for coming," he said, hugging her. "I'm sorry I don't get to see you as often."

She gave him a tight squeeze and kissed his cheek.

"S'okay," she said, patting his shoulder. "You'd better get to school, you don't wanna be late. And you look nice today."

"Yeah," he agreed, then frowned. "And thanks. Is Happy taking you out today, by any chance?"

He saw the small blushed that graced his aunt's cheeks, and he grinned.

"Possibly," she answered, not meeting his eye.

"Well, if he does, I hope you have a good time."

He kissed her cheek and left, taking a bite of his bagel as he left the kitchen.

"You goin' to school, Pete?"

The question was asked by none other than Steve, who was sitting in the living room with Bucky and Bruce.

He shook his head.

"I have work," he told them quietly. "Don't tell my Aunt. She's in the kitchen. If anyone asks, I'm at school."

Steve nodded, his expression growing serious.

"Be safe!" Bucky and Bruce called as he entered the elevator.

He smirked and saluted them with his bagel as the doors closed.