Was this a quick enough update.
People, the amount of reviews for the last chapter was phenomenal, thank you :')
Peter had only woken up for two minutes the first time. The doctors were called in and a light was shinned into his eyes. They asked him questions and monitored his vitals. No one was sure if the doctors got any relevant information from Peter's little wake up but there was more hope in the air. He had woken up, maybe not coherent to his surroundings but his eyes had opened, his jaw had moved and he had fallen asleep again.
The next time he woke up, late at night on the same day, Steve was in the room and Natasha was telling him that the doctors had been forbidden to look into the strange mutation in his blood. Any vials of his blood were to be monitored by a SHIELD agent. They were only to be used when mandatory to check any change in Peter's system due to medication or anything. Steve didn't understand, he was just paranoid about all of the information he had learnt recently and had mentioned it to Fury who took this paranoia to the next level.
Steve had tried to talk to Peter but a breathing tube had stopped Peter from communicating. When asked "Are you alright?" he gave a weak thumbs up before curling up again and falling asleep.
While Peter slept, Tony came around tried to get Steve to pry into what Peter had been doing. Steve zoned him out after the third 'you don't need to pry too much, just find out the basics.' Basically, Fury obviously hadn't put up any information where Tony could hack it so he was in the dark.
At some point Tony gave up prying when he saw Steve completely ignoring him and reading Lord of the Rings: Two Towers. Apparently someone had recommended it to him. Being frozen in the 1940s means he missed the hype. Apparently people still enjoyed them though. Tony sat down and they discussed the weather, Peter's condition, Tony rambled about his suits that he had saved. Apparently he had five now. Tony tried to educate Steve on how he was supposed to use his television, without it being present, but even with the remote, Steve doubted he would have understood.
The third time that Peter woke was the next day. Steve was there with only the doctor about. The doctor took out the tube that guided air to his lungs and stepped back.
"How are you feeling?" The doctor asked in a condescending voice.
Peter gave a weak attempt to speak. He gave up and shifted uncomfortably in his bed. Steve jumped up and went to grab Peter some water. It only took a minute but the room was awkwardly quiet. The doctor attempted to fill it with telling Peter about his progress. He mentioned all of the damage done and how they had to do a blood transfusion with Steve. When he told Peter he was healing at a phenomenal rate, Peter became rigid and the awkwardness in the room intensified. Thankfully Steve came to the rescue with a glass of water and a reassuring look.
Although the reassuring look made Peter feel a smidge more comfortable, it also made him feel very uneasy. It suggested that he knew something. Something about Spider-man? His connection to Connors? Something he just didn't want Steve to know?
Peter gulped the water down greedily. Sadly it finished too soon and he held the cup within his hands so that he wouldn't fidget. The water calmed his sandpaper throat and seemed to automatically reduce a throbbing headache.
"Peter, how do you feel?" the doctor asked again.
"Never better." Peter muttered sarcastically. His voice was scratchy from the limited use.
The doctor gave an annoyed huff. Steve had a small smile at Peter's sarcastic response, happy that Peter still retained his humour. His smile dropped when he saw the doctors annoyed expression.
"Peter, honestly, how are you feeling?" Steve asked.
Peter sighed, realising that he couldn't get out of this interrogation. Although no one seemed to be interrogating him, the tiredness he felt, the less throbbing but still there headache and the aches and pains.
"I feel like someone shoved me into an inferno and then into a bucket of ice." Peter summed up. "I'm aching everywhere."
Peter attempted to sit up, tired of being flat as a plank of wood for so long. He groaned in pain and Steve jumped out of his seat, helping him. He adjusted Peter's pillow and allowed the teen to rest some weight onto him while he adjusted.
"Well, we can up your dose of painkillers but you're already on a strong does. It seems to wear off quickly though." the Doctor stated.
Peter nodded and shut his eyes, relaxing into his bed. So far, all he'd learnt was that the doctors didn't know anything important.
Steve waved the doctor off. Finally they were alone. Steve looked at his hands, around the room and then back at Peter.
"Hey Pete, I'm sorry you had to go through that." Steve started apologetically. "I'm sorry that I kept things from you and I'm-"
"Steve, stop." Peter groaned, trying to shift some more to look at Steve. "I shouldn't have gotten so pissed off. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable or made you think I was angry at you."
Steve stared in shock for a moment and then relaxed, feeling as if the weight of the world was finally off his shoulders.
They sat in a comfortable silence for over five minutes. Peter sat there listening to the noise of Steve breathing and the sound of life out side of the window. The funny thing was that his hearing didn't seem to hear as far as it normally did. Peter put it to the fact that he was probably tired.
Steve sat comfortably relishing in the fact that Peter was finally awake and able to talk. And he was forgiven. Peter didn't hate him.
To break the silence, Peter asked how everyone else was. He asked for a full report on how things were going and who had come to visit. Steve did most of the talking. Peter just listened.
"Thor came by," Steve was saying. "He really looks forwards to meeting you."
"Wait, a Norse God came to visit?" Peter asked astounded.
"Yeah, he came to check on the team when he heard about the explosion." Steve replied.
"What's he like?" Peter asked.
Steve then went into a full description of Thor, telling him that he's a little old fashioned. Peter laughed, asking if he was more or less old fashioned then a guy from the forties. Steve gave him a description right out of a Shakespearian book and Peter just laughed but didn't ask any further questions.
Finally, Steve mentioned Gwen's visit.
"Gwen also visited." Steve said.
"Really? How's she doing?" Peter asked.
"She was really upset in the state that you're in. She was muttering about not wanting you to leave and a promise you made." Steve said, allowing it to sink in.
Peter hid his face in his hands. He started muttering under his breath, berating himself.
"Peter, what's wrong?" Steve asked.
Peter pulled his head out of his hands and looked angry. Steve guessed the anger was aimed at himself rather than anyone else.
"Gwen never gets emotional. She hates all that soppy stuff. I must have really hurt her!" Peter growled. "After her dad died, I pushed her away, scared I would hurt her. She just shouted at me and told me to stop being stupid so we made up. After that I promised to be careful. I promised to never leave her like her dad did!"
"Peter, there was nothing you could do." Steve argued. "You didn't ask to get blown up."
Peter just grumbled something incoherent.
"Any news on who attacked the tower?" Peter asked, changing subject.
Steve shook his head.
"Either the others aren't telling me something or they've got nothing. All I know is that some man hates Tony and took revenge." He summed up.
"So I can blame Tony for the pain I'm in." Peter said playfully, finally lightening up. It hurt to smile but he ignored it. He didn't want Steve to worry any more.
Steve gave a small smile, happy that Peter hadn't lost his sense of humour.
"I think he's made up for it though," Steve joked. "He is paying for your medical bills after all."
"Darn, it means I can't guilt him into doing stuff." Peter huffed.
"Such as?" Steve asked, grinning.
"Hmm, I don't know." Peter said, tapping his chin pretending to think. "Maybe I can get him to buy me a car, or a jet pack! Or I could use his armour."
Steve kept grinning except it was a little strained now. He hoped Peter was joking.
"You know," a voice from the door came. "If you wanted a car you could have just taken one from the garage."
Peter looked up and saw Tony walking into the room, grinning, with Bruce following shortly behind.
"How are you feeling, Peter." Bruce asked, smiling.
"I've had better days." Peter responded with a grin.
"As for a jet pack," Tony continued, ignoring the others. "Well, I'm a little bit more reserved on that."
Peter grinned.
"Cap'd kill me if you flew into space. I mean, I know your some funky weird kid but I don't think even you could survive zero gravity and zero oxygen." Tony pushed on.
Peter's grin dropped, he held his breath, just as he had done when the doctor mentioned some anomalies.
Steve was switching between glaring at Tony and giving worried glances at Peter. Bruce also dropped the smile and tried to fade into the background.
Tony noticed the drop in the mood and the rise in tension.
"Ah," he said. "I see that you hadn't broached the subject yet."
Steve's glare only intensified. Peter looked around, panic stricken. He felt like a deer caught in head lights. The only difference was, instead of swerving to avoid hitting him, he knew he was going to become road kill.
"I- I- how much do you know?" Peter stuttered, they could tell he was petrified.
"Peter," Steve said in his most reassuring voice. "If you don't want to talk about it, we'll wait."
"How much do you know?" Peter asked. He tried to sound stronger than the first time but his voice wavered.
Tony, Steve and Bruce all looked at each other, as if deciding what to say and who should say it. Finally, after a long, silent conversation, Steve spoke.
"We know there's something different in your blood and it's not from my gene." He started slowly. "We know about the scars on your body and some sort of fast healing factor that's allowed you to recover and probably what kept you alive."
Steve stopped, he didn't want to rush this on Peter. He didn't want Peter to feel like he was being forced to reveal his secrets.
Peter motioned for him to continue with a wave of his hand.
"Tony said that he's founds some weird lab things that he didn't know about and we know that Fury asked something of you." Steve continued. He would have said more but Peter cut him off.
"My research!" he cried out. "Is it alright?"
He looked at Tony, his eyes begging him for good news. Tony felt guilty to be the bearer of bad news. The kid looked so desperate, he was so tempted to lie.
"I'm sorry, Pete. It basically all got burnt up." Tony said. By the tone of his voice, it sounded like he was saying someone had died. By the expression on Peter's face, it looked like that was what he had heard.
Peter seemed to go into a shell and just nodded dumbly, as if he was on an automatic pilot setting.
Steve stopped talking so Tony took over.
"Jarvis wouldn't tell me what you were doing or anything. We also know that you were using your safe. It's by your beside." Tony motioned to the right of Peter's bed. "As far as I know, from what Clint told me, that Gwen girl also knows everything. She didn't say anything though."
Peter just kept nodding a few more times, accepting the facts as they came.
They all sat in silence for a very long time, watching Peter process what he had been told. Each one went into their own little world, thinking about what Peter might tell them, fearing what secrets he might unleash on them.
"Peter, we're going to go and get some lunch. Why don't you get some rest?" Bruce suggested, pulling Tony along as he walked out the door.
Steve stayed for an extra few seconds, hoping Peter would speak up, say anything! Maybe he would ask Steve to stay, keep him company.
That didn't happen. Peter just nodded automatically again and so Steve walked out, leaving Peter to his thoughts.
What do I tell them?! Peter thought desperately to himself.
The truth! A voice in his head screamed back.
But what if they hate me for it? Peter asked, crying for some answers.
They won't! The voice argued. Steve obviously cares for you and the others can just accept it!
But-
You live with an assassin, a spy, raging green monster and genius drunken idiot with a big mouth. You're the great grandson of a super soldier and while you were in a coma you got visited by a Norse God. Seriously, telling your secret won't kill anyone! The voice reasoned.
Peter wanted to laugh at how outrageous his life had become in such a short time. He decided to listen to the little voice in his head.
He looked around the room, hoping they would come back in so he could explain everything, once it was out, he could relax. He wouldn't have to worry about it any more.
He waited five minutes but still, they didn't show.
Maybe I should wait and tell everyone together. He thought to himself. He brushed it off. He'd rather just tell Steve and Steve can tell everyone else.
Peter let out a sigh, he was now bored and tense. He decided to turn on the TV that was at the end of the room. He looked around for the remote and found it on his left side table. Obviously Steve hadn't used the TV or the remote wouldn't be so out of the way.
Peter shrugged off those thoughts and switched on the TV. The first show to come on was Spongebob Squarepants. It was a nice, simple show that Peter wouldn't mind watching. Instead though, he switched channels to some boring reality thing, next was some antiques road show, next was some angsty drama show (he could tell by the solemn faces and gravelly voices), next was another reality show. This went on for a few more minutes. Peter finally stopped at the news, hoping for some cheery story to lighten up his mood. Thanks to his crappy luck though, there was no such story.
Instead, at the bottom of the screen there were two words in bold capitals:
LIZARD ESCAPES
Peter stared in horror.
"... to our top story." the reported was saying. "Doctor Kurt Connors, also known as The Lizard, has escaped. He has been reported making his way to Queens in Manhattan through the sewers. Civilians are advised to stay inside at this time."
There was a pause as the news reporter put her hand to her ear. She was silent for a second before nodding and facing the cameras once more.
"There has just been a development in the Lizard story. Apparently, Connors came onto the surface on Ingram Street*. He has apparently destroyed the houses from nineteen to twenty one Ingram street. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Apparently, Connors is in Lizard form and has gone back into the sewers."
The screen suddenly changed into a map of the island of Manhattan. It had a red line on it.
"The map on your screen shows the estimate route that Connors is taking due to reports called into the police." the reporter stated. "If you see or hear Connors in the sewers, please inform the police."
She then passed the spotlight over to the weatherman who spoke of sunshine, warm weather and a strong wind. Peter didn't hear any of that. Instead his brain was working at one hundred miles per hour as he remembered the route. He had gone to find Peter but of course, he didn't live there any more. The next place he would go is Gwen's house. The map showed him making his way to Gwen's!
Peter looked around desperately, hoping that Steve and the others were back, wondering how he could get through to them. He knew he was in no condition to help, they could help though. He couldn't see his phone anywhere! There was the emergency button but Peter didn't think anything he did would get them here soon enough.
Deciding to do something really stupid, Peter jumped out of bed and tested the ability of his legs. They were a little wobbly but not too bad. His hips ached from the pressure though. He ignored all the pains and did another sweep of the room with his eyes. They fell upon his safe. It had his costume, his webs and his mask. If the Avengers couldn't help him save Gwen, he would save her.
Peter quickly opened his vault, careful not to rip out any of the wires. He knew that they would probably set off alarms and while he was fine with Tony, Bruce or Steve barging in, he didn't want the doctors to spring in on him too.
He changed as best he could while still hooked up to a heart monitor and a few other machines that go beep. Finally, with most of his costume on, Peter ripped out the wires, grabbed his mask and web shooters and jumped through an opened window.
Having a moment of amnesia, Peter quickly looked to his wrists to check if he had his web shooters on. Thankfully, he had remembered.
Swinging through New York now was not as fun as he remembered. Yes there was the breeze that he used to love. Yes he got the thrill from swinging. And yes the city looked very pretty.
However, the breeze rippled his costume uncomfortably on his open scabs and bandaged wounds. The thrill wasn't so much enjoyable as terrifying. For some reason his spider powers seemed to be a little off. They wouldn't warn him about the building he was about to fly into or where best to shoot his webs. But the city still looked very pretty, even if Peter couldn't pay attention to it because of the agony he felt.
Peter decided that the best course of action was to think of where Connors was heading and cut him off on the way to Gwen's.
Realising that his powers were acting up, Peter swung down delicately, wary that it would hurt a hell of a lot more to land after a thirty foot drop rather than a five foot drop.
He landed in a fairly empty side road and pulled off a drain cover, allowing the retched smell of the sewers to waft into his masked face. Peter jumped down, and listened. He could hear the sound of dripping water, the sound of scurrying rats and the sound off -
STOMP STOMP STOMP
The Lizard was nearby. Peter crawled along the slimy walls, listening to the sounds of splashing and thumping. It was weird, it felt as though his hands and feet weren't sticking to the wall as well as they used to. It was like there were less fibres in his fingers that helped him cling to things. He pushed this to the back of his mind and crawled faster.
He rounded a dark, damp corner and was faced with an ugly, scaly, green face.
Peter jumped backwards and stood in the Lizard's path.
"Forget to put on your make up, Connors?" Peter mocked.
"Parker." The Lizard hissed.
"I hear you popped round for a house call. Sorry, I forgot to send you a memo. I don't live there." Peter said innocently.
"But I'm guessing Miss Stacy still retains her original address?" Lizard hissed mockingly. He knew it would rile Peter up.
"Leave Gwen alone!" Peter demanded seriously.
Instead of arguing, the Lizard dived at Peter. Even though his spider sense was acting up, Peter still had his own logic and knew stepping to the side was a good idea. With that in mind, he dived to the left to avoid being hit. He slid under a claw aimed at his stomach and jumped onto the lizards back. Putting his hands on Connors head and covering the lizard slits that the man called eyes. He steered the monster into a wall. The impact echoed through the sewer tunnels. Peter back flipped off of the Lizards back and shot webbing to secure him to the wall. Instead of tugging at the webbing, the Lizard yanked his claws from the wall with part of the wall attached. He ran towards Peter with his cement hands extended in front of him. Peter barely dogged the clap that would have caught his head between the two cement blocks. In fact, the top of his head was grazed. He might have registered the pain if he wasn't pumped with adrenaline. The adrenaline dulled most of the other pain he felt as well.
Peter jumped up and clung to the ceiling. He turned around for a moment, looking for an exit.
That was a mistake.
In that second, the Lizard jumped up to attack and Peter's faulty spidey sense didn't warn him. Peter was caught in a strong bear – lizard? - hug which started crushing his insides. The Lizard then jumped a second time and burst through a drain cover.
People around them screamed. Peter struggled in the Lizard's hold, groaning as he did so. He almost got his arm free when he heard a loud scream. He looked around and saw that Lizard had used his tail to whip people back. One man flew into a car and the other two flew further down the street. The other two seemed winded but alive. The third man, the one who hit the car, wasn't moving, he wasn't getting up. The Lizard cackled at the destruction he was causing.
Peter panicked and struggled harder, trying to get out so that he could help people. He hissed in pain. Black spots started dancing in his vision as his oxygen supplies became very limited. The Lizard was increasing his hold on Peter.
Peter knew that a moment ago the adrenaline convinced him he wasn't in as much pain as he should have been. Now however, he was either in a load more pain it even surpassed what the adrenaline could hide, or the adrenaline was wearing off. Peter so hoped it was the adrenaline wearing off. It would be agonising if it was the former, not the latter.
Peter struggled harder and finally got his arm free. He webbed the Lizard in the face before kicking him hard in his scaly stomach. The amount of strength he used must have hurt because suddenly the Lizard was dropping him and stumbling backwards, hissing in anger and pain.
Peter quickly assessed his surroundings. They were on a busy street surrounded by civillian's. Peter had to get them away from there so that they didn't hurt anyone. Peter knew that the Lizard only wanted him. Therefore, he would follow Peter where ever he ran to. Peter decided to run to the nearest building and climb. It was a tall, concrete building with lines of windows for every floor. A few seconds later he heard the sound of smashing concrete and knew the Lizard was following.
Trying hard to ignore the pain he felt, Peter climbed harder and faster. A few times he was positive that he felt a claw scrape at the sole of his foot. Thankfully, it never got through the fabric in his shoe.
Peter didn't have time to celebrate his victory of climbing a large building when he got to the top. As soon as he reached the top he was pounced on by a large reptile wanting to kill him.
"Connors," he called out, avoiding another slash of claws to the head. "can we please stop. I don't want to hurt you!"
The Lizard let out a cackle of a laugh. Peter jumped to the other side of the roof, watching the Lizard glare at him.
"I don't think you're in a position to fight back," the Lizard hissed. "Let alone hurt me!"
"Please, let me just talked to Doctor Connors." Peter begged.
The Lizard only laughed harder.
"He has given up!" The Lizard cackled. "When no one told him what your plan was he finally gave in. You failed him!"
"NO!" Peter shouted. "I was working on it! Connors, listen to me. I – it, it got blown up. I need to restart but I was so close! I almost had it!"
"He's gone and his last thoughts, you're nothing like your father! You're a failure!" the Lizard cried.
Peter charged in outrage. He punched left and right. Attacking with renewed vigour. The Lizard did his best to block. Some of the punches were severe but his healing abilities fixed them quickly.
"You almost didn't beat me when you had help!" the Lizard grabbed at Peter, using his tail as a rope. He wrapped it around Peter's neck and hoisted him up. Using his claws he slashed at the web shooters, affectively disarming Peter.
"If you can only just beat me with help, how are you going to do it alone?" The Lizard asked sinisterly.
"He's not alone." A voice shouted. Peter had never been so happy to hear that voice. He inched his head to the left slightly and saw the Avengers, all suited up and looking very very angry.
*Peter's legit street. He lived at 20 Ingram Street. I googled it :D
I'm already writing the next chapter with the end of it already written. Sorry for the delay.
PS. I love you all! Over 1000 faves, followers and almost 1000 reviews. To each and every one of you, I want to say thank you for reading and thank you for constantly making me happy :)