Nothing can talk me out of this ship.
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Chapter 2- Peter
Peter hadn't told Shuri, but the only reason he hadn't immediately said yes to her Vibranium suit offer was because Mr. Stark had designed this suit. His emotions were still raw, and it didn't feel like something he should move on from so fast. This suit, well, the two suits, represented his relationship with Tony.
Of course, he also didn't know Shuri very well. But he was pretty sure they'd be good friends. So when he got off school he explained the plan to Ned, made sure May knew what he was doing so she wouldn't worry, and waited for Shuri's call.
"I can't believe you're friends with the Princess of Wakanda," Ned said in a low voice as they waited.
"A lot has happened, I'm just glad that, you know, we can still be friends. I'm glad you're not 20 in college for computer science." Peter had probably hugged his best friend twenty times since the day had begun, but one more couldn't hurt.
"I can't believe we lost five years…"
"I wish that was all we lost." Peter ran a hand through his hair sadly.
"I'm sorry, man." Ned put a hand on Peter's shoulder, supporting him. Peter nodded, and then suddenly he got Shuri's facetime call.
"Hey, you called!"
"Peter you have to stop expecting me to not call or answer."
"Sorry, sorry, sorry. So, how was the program?"
"It went well. I think I'm going to be able to help a lot of people."
"That's awesome! That's really exciting."
"Yeah. Anyways, where do you want to go in Oakland?" Peter thought for a moment.
"Chabot Space and Science Center." He had done some research.
"Sounds like a plan… How far are you from Rainbow bagels?"
"Like half an hour. Oh, Shuri this is Ned, my best friend, he'll be joining us."
"Great. I will be joined by my trained guard, who probably will not participate."
"Let's go get bagels."
As they traveled to their respective destinations, they talked about essentially everything. Future plans, the world after the snap and where they fit in it. Listening to them talk, there was nothing special about the three. They were just a couple of scared kids living life after just getting it back.
"You know, a lot of people are out of a job, we barely have any of the same teachers because someone else got their jobs," Peter said, looking sad.
"The employment market was cut in half. Obviously, new positions are opening up now that there's new demand, but not fast enough," Ned added.
"There are so many problems everywhere. We just have to walk the streets and wonder if we should even be alive," Shuri said somberly, not wanting to think such dismal thoughts. But that was what filled her head.
"We shouldn't be having our midlife crises before we're twenty," Peter said loudly and vehemently, causing the people on public transport to look at him oddly.
"You're right. I guess that's why we live for distractions," Shuri agreed.
"Is that what we're doing? Trying to distract ourselves until we die? Because you two seemed to me to be people who could actually make a difference in this world, correct me if I'm wrong." Ned interrupted. Peter gave him a weird look and made a mental note to follow up on that later.
"Yeah, I guess that's what we're really living for. We'll just see how it works out." Peter rested a hand on Ned's shoulder and kind of fell out of the conversation, just listening for a minute.
"We're driving up to the science Museum now. I don't know how far it is but we've been driving for a minute. I'll film out the window for you," Shuri said, making Peter crack a sad smile, thinking about his trip to Germany with Mr. Stark. He and Ned peered down at the screen, watching Oakland pass by. When a recognizable orange sign popped up, she and Ned practically said in unison,
"Road work ahead? I sure hope it does."
"Hey, Ned and I reached the bagel place. You said you wanted rainbow bagels? We will get the rainbowiest bagels here." Shuri laughed.
"Good."
"How'd you know about this place anyway? I think I've only been here once."
"Safiya Nygaard did a video where she went here with her boyfriend."
"One day we'll treat you to a rainbow bagel," Peter promised, showing off what he and Ned had just ordered.
"Sounds good," Peter was just happy to be the distraction, for now, he needed one as much as she did, he was terrified to start back at school with the five year set back. He was terrified to be facing the world as Spiderman without his mentor and father figure. He'd cried last night, and he'd hated it. He was just tired of being sad. So he was chasing distractions with his friends, though he was mostly sitting back and listening as Shuri gave them a tour of the Chabot Space and Science Center. He was just focusing on her tour until he heard some commotion on his side. He hadn't noticed the group of teens come in until they were loudly in his space.
Peter only had to look at them to know that these were people who had grown up during the snap. They looked arrogant and entitled and they were mocking Ned. Peter didn't even hear the words they were saying, he just saw someone try to push his best friend out of his chair and saw red. He stepped between them and pushed them away, not trying to hold back his strength.
"Leave him alone. No one messes with my friends and gets away with it."
"Peter, it's okay, don't worry about it. I might look like a burnt chicken nugget, but I still love myself." The group of teens walked away, muttering insults, and Peter sat down, feeling flustered.
"I'm sorry, man," he apologized to Ned.
"What happened?" Shuri asked.
"Just some hecklers. Don't worry about it. We're probably headed home," Ned said.
"Do you want to do this again?" Shuri asked. Peter had spent the afternoon listening to Ned and Shuri become friends.
"Yeah, we should. Shuri, I'll give you Ned's number and maybe we can set up a group chat and set something up."
"Sounds good, it's been fun talking to you today Ned."
"Yeah, you too…." Ned was smiling, and Peter quirked a smile too. It was clear all three of them were friends. Maybe his newest distraction could be changing Ned and Shuri from friends to more than friends.