Sorry if characters seem out of character in this chapter, it just felt so weird to write for some reason.
"Peter! I was so worried!"
Aunt May had woken up in her own bed, tucked in nonetheless, extremely confused. Last thing she remembers was sitting in Peter's hospital room, wanting him to wake up with some stupid sarcastic comment or terrible pun, giving her something to tell her he was okay. He didn't and she must have fallen asleep. Rubbing her weary eyes, she wandered out of her room, glancing at the shut door leading to Peter's, before wandering into the living room. It took her until she was at the fridge to notice someone else was in her apartment as well.
There was Ned, out cold, on the couch. He was snoring softly, one arm dangling off the couch, face smushed against a pillow, other arm tucked between the sofa cushions below his form, and his body. He looked so peaceful and May didn't want to wake him up. Unfortunately, as she was debating whether or not to wake him, a loud knock sounded from the door, startling her and causing the sleeping Ned to jolt awake, making him fall off the couch with a soft thump and a small groan. May wandered to the door, opening it slightly to see who it was before letting the man in. It was only Happy, who looked as disgruntled and uninterested as ever, though a sparkle of amusement flickered across his face at the sight of Ned slowly picking himself off the floor.
"Did you bring us back here?"
"I was told to Ms. Parker."
"May, please. How is Peter, is he okay? Did he wake up yet?"
"I'm supposed to bring you back to the hospital, Tony didn't actually tell me why," Happy said, shuffling his feet slightly. The pair who were sleeping were ready to go immediately. Happy brought them to the car waiting outside and they drove, in silence, to the hospital, afraid of why they were being summoned. Neither May nor Ned wanted to assume anything, but all either could think about was how Peter looked so sickly the last they saw him.
Thankfully, they didn't have to wade through the sea of reporters still trying to get a statement from Peter, who may or may not be awake yet. There was a back entrance, typically used for employees only, but they made an exception for the family. The trio walked tensely towards Peter's room, and neither could contain their happiness when Happy opened the door.
Both raced to Peter's side when they saw him sitting up slightly against the bed. He looked pale and drowsy, but he was awake. May started crying, and Ned sniffed, seemingly trying not to cry, but failing. Peter gave them a gentle smile and Tony sat in a chair beside him.
"Don't you ever do that to me again mister or I will kill you myself! Understand," May said, slapping him lightly on the arm before hugging him. Peter cried out in pain, causing her to flinch away, apologizing profusely, but Peter waved it off.
"It's okay, you didn't know."
"Seriously dude, no more heroics. Especially when I'm not around. Why do I always miss out on all the action," Ned whined before wincing. "Sorry Peter, didn't mean it like that, it's just-"
"I got what you were trying to say, and I wasn't being heroic, I was just doing what anyone else would have done," Peter said with a slight shrug, grunting as his bad side was moved.
"Peter, I don't think too many others would willingly stand between an angry shooter and their target."
"I still wasn't a hero, people are exaggerating, I mean have you seen the news, no one knows if I'm alive. There are so many rumors flying around it's insane. People are saying I got shot like twenty times or something else equally as crazy," Peter exclaimed.
"Peter, honey, I don't know why you can't get it through your head, but you are a hero. At least, you're a hero to Flash."
"Yeah dude, you should see social media, it's blowing up! Flash texted me asking if you were alright. He texted me asking about you. I don't even know how he got my number!" Peter looked uncomfortable, shifting slightly. He ran a hand through his hair nervously.
"I don't understand what the big deal is. Why is everyone focused on me and not the people who actually should be recognized, like those dead, or the people who helped the students get out safely."
"Well, you are one of those people who helped get others out kiddo, whether you like it or not," May said, ruffling Peter's hair, messing it up. He groaned in annoyance, running his fingers through it to straighten it back out, wincing as his chest pulled.
"How are you Peter?" The teen looked at his friend, who still had worry written all over his face. "Like, seriously. I mean, you were shot, you nearly died, you did die briefly. How are you doing?"
"I've been better, that's for sure," Peter chuckled, rubbing his chest absentmindedly. "And right now I'm feeling alright, but I'm pretty sure it will all hit at some point, knock me off my feet for a while. But it's nothing I can't handle right? It's not like I'm a stranger to death," Peter muttered, causing everyone in the room to look away and shift uncomfortably.
"Kid," Tony started, breaking the awkward silence that fell over the group. "When it does hit you, let me know, I'm always there for you, okay?"
"Me too."
"And don't you dare think about holding anything in mister, or you will regret it," May scolded, causing Peter to grin sheepishly and nod.
"Thanks guys, I will, promise. I won't keep stuff bottled up this time." Tony wasn't quite sure what he meant by this time, but a look at Ned and May showed that they seemed to know what he meant. There were some things that Tony needed to speak with the kid about when the time was right.
"Peter?"
"Yeah Aunt May?"
"I think that you should say something to Flash," she said, causing Peter to look down at his hands, which were playing with the edge of the blanket. "He doesn't know if you're alive or not, and I know you don't like him, but you could at least show him you're alive and okay."
"Wait, wait wait, hold up. You stood in front of a gun, got shot, nearly died, to save a kid you don't like? I didn't understand you, intentionally putting yourself in harm's way, but now even less so. I mean, I'm all for saving people, but you could have found a better way."
"I just kind of reacted, I didn't think."
"There's your problem, you didn't think. You saw a gun pointed at someone and just, put yourself between the two. I don't understand you kid. Your heart is going to get you killed some day, I swear," Tony said, pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. Peter looked guilty, his fingers toying at the fabric of the blanket." Tony looked between the three and Ned opened his mouth to speak.
"Yeah Peter, Tony has a point. I mean, you hate Flash, he's always beating on you, and yet you chose to nearly die to protect him. I don't know why you think that nearly getting killed is acceptable," Ned exclaimed, throwing his hands up before his eyes widen and his hands fly to cover his mouth. May and Tony both look at the boy before turning to a pale, nervous Peter, who seemed to lighten a few shades more when Ned said what he did.
"Beating on you? What exactly does Ned mean Peter," Tony asked the boy in bed, who refused to make eye contact with him.
"I'm so sorry Peter, I didn't mean to-"
" 's okay Ned, they'd find out eventually."
"Find what out?"
"Ned. Talk," May demanded, causing the boy to crack.
"Okay, okay, Flash has been bullying Peter for a while now, but Peter insists on not letting you know May. I don't know why he doesn't want you to know, probably 'cause he doesn't want you to worry, but I don't get it. The teachers know about it, and there's at least one who'll actually acknowledge the bullying when it happens and try to stop it, but nothing ever works. The worst punishment Flash will get it maybe an after school detention for one day, but nothing more, so it's kind of pointless," Ned blurted, his words spewed without any filter.
"So the teachers know about Flash bullying you and they do nothing?" Peter nodded slowly.
"Why kind of bullying?" There was no answer from Peter, but Ned burst once Tony glared at him for a few seconds.
"Usually it's just kind of names and such, but sometimes Peter'll come to class with some bruises, or he'll end up in a locker, or something else. I don't know the extent of it, I'm sorry Mr. Stark, please don't hurt me," Ned stammered, covering his head. Tony pinched the bridge of his nose and May just looked pissed off.
"Peter, look at me." He didn't. "Peter. Look me in the eyes. Now," May demanded and Peter forced himself to look, a few tears falling from his eyes. "Why didn't you feel you could tell me this? I'm your aunt, I thought we told each other things," she said softly, saddened that Peter felt that he couldn't tell her about Flash.
"I'm sorry."
"Peter."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you May, I just didn't want you to worry. I mean, it's been years and nothing to bad happened. I mean, it's just some name-calling and the occasional shove in the hallways, nothing more."
"That fight you got into a few months back, with Flash. The one you got about two weeks worth of after school detention for. Was that…?"
"I didn't retaliate," Peter murmured, looking down again. "He shoved me against some lockers at the end of the school day, beat me up a bit, no big deal, but then a teacher showed up and we both got in trouble, kind of. I ended up with two weeks of detention, Flash got a slap on the wrist because there were practices he couldn't miss for football because of a big upcoming game." Tony growled and May's eyes held flames in them.
"Why that little son of a-"
"Language Tony, please," May scolded, causing Tony to roll his eyes.
"I think you should confront Flash, tell him you're okay, show him you're fine, no thanks to him."
"He bullied Allen, that's why Allen brought the gun, revenge." Everyone looked at Peter, so the teen explained.
"Allen was a nice kid, never got in trouble, but Flash, even though he was an underclassmen, decided he could bully Allen. From what I gather, or can guess, Flash's treatment of him was worse than what he does to me. More physical I think, more shoving, beatings, tripping, and a lot more taunts and teases. Allen was just hurting and felt that getting rid of the object of his pain was the only way out. Unfortunately, he discovered another way when that didn't work," Peter said, eyes glazing over and face becoming stoic as he thought about how Allen felt there was nothing worth living for.
"So Flash is the reason three people are dead?"
"No, Allen is the reason those people are dead, himself in included, he pulled the trigger," Tony said.
"But Flash's treatment of Allen was what drove him off the edge," May said softly and the group sat in silence, mulling over everything that had been said.
"Should I invite Flash in here," Peter asked quietly, breaking the silence and causing three pairs of eyes to dart to him.
"I was thinking you could just have Ned text him that you were alive and alright."
"Yeah, that could work, but if you really want to show him that you are alive and well, a visit might do that better."
"So should I tell Flash to stop by or…?"
"I'll send Happy for him," Tony said, shooting the man a text, but stopping before he hit send. "Is that okay Peter? If he comes today?" Peter hesitated before nodding shakily.
Tony hit send.