Marvel still owns them all.
Chapter 3: Road Trip
(Before ending up at the compound upstate)
"May knows you're Spider-Man?!" Ned exclaimed.
"Dude, quiet down!" Peter shushed his friend. It was Friday, and Peter just had this short time at school to help him regain some sense of normalcy before returning home to face whatever inquiry May would send his way over the weekend.
"It wasn't so different from how you found out. She caught me in the suit while I was in my room." Peter sighed, "It was awful, dude. She was so hurt."
"Wait, wait, wait…the suit? Like THE suit? I thought Mr. Stark took that away," Ned questioned.
Peter explained that Happy had taken him upstate earlier in the week, and he even told his friend about being offered an official place with the Avengers. "It was all a test, though (or so he thought). I guess I passed because I found the suit left for me in my room. I should have made sure that May wasn't home, but I was just so happy to see it again. I just had to put it on…that's when May saw me."
Ned shook his head in disbelief. "Now we know why Superman changed in a phone booth. You'll have to be more careful about who sees you change, dude!"
"Ugh! That's creepy, Ned! Ideally, no one would see me." The two friends continued through their day, and Ned offered Peter encouragement whenever he could.
Before they parted ways at the end of the school day, Ned said, "I don't think you need to worry, Peter. Your aunt's cool, and she loves you. It's probably better that she knows. Now you guys can like, you know, be closer than ever."
Peter gave a reluctant nod, "I hope you're right, Ned. She's had some time to reconsider." He laughed and jokingly added, "If she kicks me out, I may just need to bunk with you."
Ned nodded, smiled, and spoke with a thoughtful voice, "Badass…it would be that much easier to be the guy in the chair!"
"Whatever, dude!" Peter responded while shaking his head slightly as his friend. "I'll see you Monday. Aunt May is restricting my phone privileges as well."
Ned offered a nod, "Who knew being a teenage superhero would be like this. Good luck, Peter!"
"Thanks…later!" he yelled before making his way home.
The whole way home, Peter worried about what May might ask. One moment he felt relieved about telling his aunt the truth, but the next moment he felt dread. It could be dangerous for her to know too much. He sighed and thought, "Peter, you have a lot to figure out in the next couple of weeks."
The last thing Peter expected was for his aunt to be waiting for him outside.
She quirked an eyebrow at him as he walked up to their apartment building. "I'm surprised to see you using the sidewalk. I half expected to see you swinging down the street with your spidey-webs."
"AUNT MAY!" Peter exclaimed in a harsh whisper. He moved closer to her and said, "Please, you need to be careful, you never know who could hear you! I need you to be more careful. I told you, I can't let anything happen to you!"
May gave him a look before scanning the street. "Peter, we are alone. This is Queens. People keep to themselves and care little about what is said on the street anyway."
Peter shook his head. "There are two people about to come around the corner. One is wearing headphones, but the other is keeping alert." Not long after he finished, two young men came around the corner. One was wearing headphones and bobbing his head to his music, but the other young man seemed to be keeping a close eye (and probably a close ear) on their surroundings.
May's mouth dropped open, "How did you…"
"…Heightened senses." Peter interrupted.
May sighed, "Right, I still have so much to learn about my own kid. Come on…" she walked forward and grabbed his arm on her way, leading him towards her car. "…We're going to take a road trip."
Something in Peter panicked. "What?! Wait…you're not kicking me out, are you? I told you I was sorry, May." Maybe he would be bunking with Ned after all.
She gave him an exasperated look, "You're not getting rid of me that easily, young man. Just…get in the car. We'll talk more on the way."
"On the way, where?" Peter insisted.
"Peter, just get in the car…Please!" May gave him a look that was clearly meant for him to recognize that she was still the one in charge.
Once in the car, Peter took a closer look at his aunt. She looked like she hadn't gotten any sleep, and he was pretty sure that she had called out of work.
They drove in silence for some time before Peter realized in which direction they were headed. "Oh no! May…why are we driving upstate?! Please tell me we aren't…"
"…Oh, we are!" May cut in. "We are both going to have a talk with that Tony Stark. He made himself a part of our lives, so we need to settle some things with him once and for all. Like… I am your legal guardian, and he has no right to endanger you without talking to me first!" Her voice getting louder with each word she spoke.
Peter put his head in his hands and growled in frustration. "Mr. Stark will never let me hear the end of this."
"Do you even know where you are going? They don't exactly post directions to the Avengers Compound on Google Maps, May."
"I know!" May defended before clearing her throat and admitting, "I already looked."
"Then what are we doing? Are you planning to just drive all around until something looks promising?" Peter squealed.
"Don't take that tone with me young man!" Man looked over at him in the passenger seat. She had definitely mastered the "mom look" with him over the years. "I do have some sense, you know. You already told me you were there once. I expect you to make sure we are going the right way."
Peter gave her a look and asked, "What makes you think I'll remember?"
"Hah! Come on, Peter! What do you take me for, a fool? You're too smart, and you have an incredible sense of direction. Add in those heightened senses and I have no doubt that you can find your way back."
She gave him an expectant look before he answered, "Fine. Keep going. We have about another 25 miles before our exit."
May smiled triumphantly. "Perfect. Plenty of time for you to answer some questions along the way."
"Great." Peter replied without any real enthusiasm.
"You don't like spit venom or anything, do you?" May asked.
Peter put his head back on the seat and looked up towards the roof of the car. He closed his eyes and sighed while shaking his head, "Who would have thought that you and Ned would ask the same kind of questions."
May raised her eyebrows, and Peter realized she was still waiting for an answer.
"NO!" he said (maybe a little too loudly). He lowered his voice to a normal level before continuing, "And before you ask, I do NOT lay eggs, either!"
May laughed out loud at that, "Well, thank God! I won't have to worry about anything hatching in our apartment."
Peter looked at her in disbelief, but then saw the playful smile on her face. "You're kidding…"
"Of course! That was something I didn't even think about!" She laughed again before adding. "But that is good to know. A small comfort."
"Aw, come on…" Peter whined.
May laughed some more. The ride continued with more questions about Peter's abilities and the changes to his body. Peter also clarified on exactly what Ned knew since his aunt did not want his friends to know more than her. Before long, they took their exit and Peter was helping his aunt to navigate the back roads that would lead to the compound.
"You know…I should probably call Mr. Stark and let him know we're coming. They may not even let us in. Security is pretty tight." Peter explained.
"No!" May insisted. "They will let us in. I do not want to give that Stark a chance to run away. He is going to answer to me once and for all."
"I don't know. What if he isn't even there?"
"I packed up some things and put them in the trunk before you got home. We'll wait for him there all weekend if we have to. Surely they will let Spider-Man into the Avengers Compound." May said with complete determination.
"What? Bags? May…Mr. Stark and his head of security, Happy, are some of the only people who know who I am. This may not work out in the way you want. We cannot go up to the gate and announce that Spider-Man and his aunt want an audience with Iron Man!"
May huffed, "Well, I guess I'm glad that you are being careful with your secret, but I will get us into that building!"
Peter was quiet for the rest of the trip except to finish giving his aunt directions. He really didn't doubt her ability to get them inside.
"Mr. Stark is really never ever going to let me hear the end of this!" Peter slumped down in his seat, resigned to the fate the lay ahead of him.