A Second Chance – Chapter 4
Chapter 4
He woke up, sweat dripping from his body as he blinked the sleep from his eyes. The nightmare still fresh in his mind as he noted the dull ache that had spread across his back and shoulders from being sat in one place for too long. Pushing himself to his feet, Peter ran a hand over his face before growling out in frustration and padding off to the bathroom. Business done, he washed his hands and made his way back to his room casting an eye around for his phone and once he found it, he made his way out into the hallway beyond, through the darkened corridor and down the stairs. Coming to a halt in the kitchen area, Peter noted the dark rooms within the compound appeared to be steadily lighting up as the inky black night gave way to early morning and he paused, taking in the vast grounds laid out before him through the window. Moving towards the kitchen sink, he poured himself a glass of water before settling down in a chair at the table. He thought back to his nightmare and his heart sped up as the tears threatened to fall again when he suddenly became aware of a noise somewhere above him. Moving swiftly, he made his way back to the elevator and asked FRIDAY to take him to the launchpad and within seconds he stepped out into the cool morning air, feet padding softly on the concrete underneath. He watched in surprise as a small jet landed and a lone figure made its way toward him. With concern, he noticed the figure held its side and he moved to offer aid without thinking. Nat looked up in surprise as she came face to face with a random teenager, steeling herself against the pain she asked who he was. "M-my name's Peter, you good?" he asked evenly, eyeing Nat's hand gripping her side. Muttering a quick fine, she moved past Peter before coming to a stop, "wait, why are you here?" she asked as her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"I – well, - I, umm… I'm staying here a while, wi– with Tony" Peter ground out, finding eye contact very difficult. Nodding thoughtfully, Nat beckoned Peter to follow as she headed to the Medbay. Plopping down on a nearby bed, she guided Peter to where the medical supplies were kept and requested various items. Peter watched as Nat eased off her jacket before raising her top to expose her stomach where a nasty slash stood out angrily against her flesh. "You're bleeding!" Peter called out suddenly, making Nat startle before she levelled him with a glare. "No shit, genius" she muttered before tending to her wound, once the task was completed, she sighed and leapt from the bed with surprising ease before heading towards the kitchen. Peter followed, unsure if he should get someone but Nat seemed fine as she walked towards the fridge and pulled out a drink. Drinking quickly, she paused as her eyes landed on Peter stood silently watching before she asked, "don't kids sleep anymore?" Peter bristled, "I'm not a kid – I have slept. What were you doing?"
Nat nodded before capping her drink and heading towards the sofa, sitting down she turned the TV on and angled her head towards Peter in a silent invite which he accepted.
Plopping down on the sofa next to her, he watched as she settled on some sitcom and noticed the way her face seemed guarded. "So… where have you been?" Peter tried again; he didn't really like awkward silences. "Need to know kid" Nat offered briefly before sighing at Peter's crestfallen face as he stuttered some apology, "mission – nothing exciting, almost too easy" she offered, her tone a bit more friendly.
Nat lent her head back against the sofa and Peter thought about leaving her to it when her breathing evened out steadily, obviously in no danger. Heading back the way he came, he decided to check out the swimming pool below and made his way downstairs. Opening the door, he looked around before his eyes landed on a clean robe hanging up, he shimmied out of his clothes down to his boxers and entered the pool as he pushed through his weariness to complete the laps. The steady rise and fall of his arms and his concentration on his breathing meant he could think of nothing else and he continued for 3 hours before a slight burn built up within his muscles. Coming to a stop, he made his way to the edge of the pool before grabbing the robe and his clothing and making his way back to his room. He met nobody on the way back and briefly noted that Nat had disappeared, probably to her room, he thought to himself before opening the door to his bedroom; he closed it before heading to the bathroom where he brushed his teeth and hair and mentally noted he looked like shit.
Exiting and feeling a bit more alert, he made his way to the chest of draws in his room and opened them – not sure exactly what he was hoping to find. A frustrated breath escaped him as he realised that he had nothing else to wear and begrudgingly he pulled the same clothes he had been wearing back on for the last day and a half. His mind grumbled at the thought and he wished once again that he was home with May, surrounded by his own clothes and furniture and that he could keep living his normal life. The thoughts stung as the hopelessness crashed over him and he took a shaky step towards his bed before the world tilted without warning and he stumbled to his knees. "Ouch!" he ground out loudly, rubbing his leg and feeling irritated. He sighed wearily, watching the red streaked sky in the early morning hour before pulling himself up to stand, his mind idly wandered back to Tony telling him that the lease on his old place would be active for a while. The stab of dread filled him at the thought of returning to the apartment even if it was to gather clothes for himself, May was gone – it wasn't his home anymore.
Peter let out a sigh again before he checked his phone and noticing the time (7:45am), he forced his feet to keep moving forwards as he made his way back downstairs. As he neared the kitchen, he became aware of sounds in the room beyond and he cautiously peered around the doorframe to find Steve bustling about. Clearing his throat quietly and about to apologise for interrupting the man, Peter found himself cut off by Steve's smiling face and welcome wave as he motioned for Peter to join him. Forcing himself further into the spacious room, Peter sat down watching the movements of Captain America before finding a plate pushed in front of him. Steve sat down with his own plate and was about to take a bite when he noticed Peter hadn't moved. "Eat, son. It's not poison", Steve stated with a light chuckle.
Peter started when Captain America spoke before eyeing his plate, offering a muttered thanks he picked up his bagel and took a bite. "What's your name?" Steve asked easily as he continued munching on his food. "P-Peter Sir. Peter Parker, thanks for the food, Captain America" Peter managed to choke out as embarrassment flooded him at being addressed directly for the second time.
"Steve, son. Call me Steve, it's nice to meet you Peter" Steve offered easily before standing and making his way to the fridge. Ducking down, Steve picked some items out of the fridge before straightening his back, turning on his heel, Steve brought two bottles of drink back over to the table with him before pushing one towards Peter. Thanking Steve again, Peter uncapped his drink before taking a steady sip. "Cap – Sir, is that woman - Black Widow okay?" Peter asked suddenly as he fought the blush creeping up his neck and cheeks; Steve eyed Peter in confusion as he asked what Peter meant. "Well, Sir this morning I heard a sound and… and I went to investigate and umm.. well, Captain America sir, Black Widow is it? She had landed on the launchpad and was clutching her side. I went to the Medbay with her Sir, I wanted to check she was okay, you know and umm she was on the sofa over there but then she disappeared when I returned from my swim" Peter finished uneasily, aware he had just word-vomited all over the man in front of him.
Steve chuckled, "that's quite a mouthful son, and please, call me Steve. Did Nat sort herself out?" he asked, frowning in concern. Peter nodded mutely, before explaining she'd cleaned the cut and had seemed fine when he left her, Steve watched Peter thoughtfully before nodding in agreement. "I'm sure she's fine, kid. Don't worry about it – I'll check on her later" Steve acquiesced calmly.
Peter nodded, relief filling him as he returned to his bagel. When he finished, Steve took their plates and loaded the dishwasher before Tony stumbled into the kitchen, sunglasses fixed over his eyes to block the brightness out for a while longer. His mouth popped open in surprise as he took in Peter sat at the table and Steve near the sink, "kid – why are you up. Shouldn't you be sleeping?" he asked curiously.
"Tony! I made breakfast; Peter's eaten haven't you son? Why don't you grab a chair and I'll bring it over to you – coffee?" Steve asked easily, a brief smile gracing his features as Tony moaned a brief "oh god, please". Turning to look at Peter again, Tony asked how he'd slept, noticing the brief hesitation on the kid's face before Peter supplied a brief "fine" in response. Tony nodded thoughtfully and he felt the wave of relief wash over him at the thought of Peter finally eating something solid, kid was starting to worry him. "How long you been up?" Tony asked him as Steve placed his breakfast on the table.
"Umm… I'm not sure, Mr Stark sir. I went for a swim though; I hope that's okay!" Peter rushed out hastily, aware he hadn't asked permission. Tony waved his hand clearly not concerned as he took a sip of his coffee and his eyes raked over Peter's dishevelled appearance; "Tony - and do you need clothes?" he asked Peter suddenly. Peter shifted uncomfortably in his chair, trying to ignore Steve at the opposite end of the kitchen, "I umm.. I guess" Peter offered vaguely. Clapping his hands and making Peter jump, Tony offered to drive Peter back to his apartment for supplies. He noticed Peter slump in his chair at the suggestion, his eyes downcast and his mouth pressed into a firm line as he briefly shook his head. "N-no thanks, Mr Stark, Sir. I can, I mean I – umm – I'll head over in a bit" Peter managed to mutter quietly as Tony eyed him in confusion. "Kid, you're 15, I can't let you wander that far alone. Let me drive you" Tony offered again quietly, aware that Steve was a few feet away and thinking that Peter was embarrassed. Peter's features flushed and he forced himself to look at Tony before reaffirming he was fine, picking up his drink he offered a brief goodbye before making his way back to his room again.
Tony watched Peter walk away, surprise evident on his face as Steve turned to face him with his eyebrows raised. "What the hell was that about, Capsicle?" Tony queried quietly, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion - "well, I guess maybe the kid doesn't want to go back home Tony" Steve offered thoughtfully, "I remember feeling the same when I lost my mother. I had Bucky with me then but it was hard going back to an empty place". Tony nodded, trying to remember when his own parents had passed, truthfully that time was a little blurry as flashes of girls and booze filled his mind but he vaguely recalled the dread associated with an empty home; his dad hadn't been around much but his mother was. Making his mind up, he released a sigh before reaching for his tablet and resolving to order Peter some clothes, the kid couldn't wander around in the same ones forever. Order placed, he looked back at Steve before asking how he could get Peter to visit his apartment and how Tony could help him decide on arrangements for May. Truthfully even though he had been in constant contact with the Hospital which held May's body and the landlord back in Queen's, he knew that May couldn't rest in a hospital morgue forever and Peter would have to face it sooner rather than later.
Steve watched him, sadness evident in his eyes as he mulled the question over. "I'm not sure, Tony… I had a friend with me you know. How close are you both?" he asked as he thought through the possible options available. Tony ran a hand through his hair, "I don't know Cap, I thought we were a lot closer than this – we've spent time together and shit… but the kid won't even talk to me, I have barely got even a sentence out of him since he arrived yesterday". Steve nodded before a new thought flashed through his mind, "Nat's here, Peter found her" he offered suddenly causing Tony to raise an eyebrow as he waited for Cap to fill him in.
Looking up and calling for FRIDAY, Tony pulled up footage from the Launchpad deck and watched as Nat stumbled forward only to be met by Peter. Asking why FRIDAY hadn't woken him when Peter woke up, FRIDAY stated she had and that Tony had snoozed her alert. Groaning to himself, Tony shook his head before looking at Steve as if waiting for a reprimand. Steve however, shrugged his shoulders, "kid was fine Tone. He found me in the kitchen and I fed him, you didn't miss much."
Tony nodded before drawing his attention back to the screen and peering at the timestamp in surprise, "FRIDAY what did Peter do after he came back in with Nat?" Tony questioned.
"Peter went for a swim, boss" FRIDAY responded easily as Tony's eyebrows pulled into a frown, "how long was he swimming for?" Tony wondered loudly, before FRIDAY answered him – "Peter swam for 3 hours".
Steve's eyebrows shot up so fast Tony thought they would disappear completely for a second, "three hours?! What, how did he even manage that without a break?" Steve questioned as Tony looked down suddenly uncomfortable. "Well… err, maybe, the kid's a good swimmer?" Tony offered quickly before changing the subject. He knew Steve would be fuming if he found out who Peter was and what role he had played in the Accords business. Steve eyed him, aware that Tony was hiding something but he would find out eventually – he always found out in the end. "Oh, hey! Pepper's home tomorrow Spangles! Maybe you should practice your cooking skills for her" Tony offered easily, a grin plastered on his face. Steve shook his head, chuckling before stating he'd be more than happy to cook for Pepper too. Tony stood before moving towards the corridor and heading to one of the offices on the lower level, he had some things to catch up on.
