Safe and Sound

Chapter 5

May finished pretty quickly, getting bored and already worn out from last night. She leaves the house in a hurry, but I don’t know where she’s going.

I drag myself to my feet and call Ned, letting him know I’ll be heading out soon. He likes to know, in case anything happens. I told I’d be going to my normal place, around the south side of town.

“Okay, come get me if you need me, you know where I am.” he says. “I’ve gotta finish my homework so I’ll talk to you tomorrow, or tonight if you’re unlucky.” he chuckles.

“Y-yeah, see you then Ned.” I hang up and stuff my phone in my backpack. I clean up the glass, sweeping the hardwood floors and cleaning the dried blood up before going to clean myself up. Just bruises tonight.

I rinse my face with cool water, slip on my suit, and toss my clothes back on over it before leaving, locking the door behind me.

I stroll down the street for a few minutes before I slip down the usual alley. Behind the dumpster I take off my hood and jeans, slip on my mask, stash my bag and zip my phone up in the padded pocket I sewed into my suit, quickly climbing to the top of the building.

Or, not so quickly. Everything hurts.

I spend the night gliding from rooftop to rooftop. It’s been a quiet night. Around ten, I caught a mugging, and the Police came close enough to report me, but I got out. After that, just when I was ready to call it a night, Tony, or Iron Man, showed up.

“Hey Spidey, how’s it going.” Tony asks. I just nod. “They said you weren’t much of a talker.” he yawns. “Heard you were through here on the Police Scanner. Rare occurrence, that they nearly catch you. You know, if you wanted to maybe join the Avengers, they’d leave you alone.” he shrugs. I just shake my head.

No way. That would be way too much trouble. I can’t do something that drastic living with May anyways. Working on my own I can go when and where I need to without worrying about May as much.

“Come on. We at least need to know who you are. We won’t make it public or anything, but it’s a safety measure. And that way we know when to find you if we ever need help! You don’t even have to join.” I shake my head again.

No way. I can’t risk it. I crouch, ready to jump, when there’s an explosion, knocking me sideways. I hit my head pretty hard, and with my previous injuries it takes me a second to pull myself back to my hands and knees.

“What the Hell Clint?!” Tony shouts.

“He was going to attack you!”

“He was going to jump! He’s Spider-Man! He jumps and swings, that's what he does!” Tony shouts. My ears are ringing… My head hurts… My ears hurt… I cover my ears with my hands and stumble back a bit as they continue to shout. Tony seems to notice this.

“Are you okay? I’m sorry about him, he has no common sense.” I can hear the eye roll. I can also hear the ringing. I can’t turn my enhanced senses off, but I really wish I could right now. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but only make the pain worse.

“Hey, can you hear me?” Hawkeye asks. He sounds slightly concerned now. It hurts… Everything hurts… I whine too much. I’m sure it’ll go away by morning anyway. I’m sure others have had it worse. Hell, Hawkeye himself has had it worse,

I’ll be fine.

I let myself fall backwards, and looking up I can see them staring over the edge at me. Hawkeye looks mortified, but I can’t see Tony through the suit, obviously.

I web the top of the tallest, closest building and swing myself around, out of sight. I make a few turns, making sure they aren’t following me before I head back to the alley my bag is in. I take off the mask and slip on my other clothes, heading for home.

As I walk I check my phone. It’s only ten thirty.