Spider-Man: Keep No Secret

A Changing of Homes

Michelle's mother opened the door, expecting the pizza guy, & Michelle went with her to help her mother, but when they opened the door, they saw Peter standing in front of them. Peter held his head down, but he carried a desperate expression on his face. Michelle noticed that Peter was carrying his backpack & it was filled with belongings, clothing, & a few other things of his that he would need.

Peter looked up with his jaw clenched & a tear in his eye. But Michelle & her mother noticed the red patches around his eyes, his skin around his eyes were dehydrated & irritated.

"Can I stay with you guys for a while", Peter asked? He wiped his tears away & tried to hold back the others.

Michelle & her mother looked at each other confused & concerned, but decided to let him in. Michelle instantly wrapped her arms around Peter & tried to comfort him as tears of anger & sadness streamed from his eyes.

"I'm so sorry", Peter spoke in the crevice of Michelle's neck.

"No, it's okay", Michelle said as she rubbed his lower back. "Are you okay? What happened"?

"My dad, Tony, kicked me out", Peter spoke softly. He started to recall what happened.

---

"Where in the hell are you going", Tony asked? Tony followed Peter to his room & continued to scream at him.

"I'm done with this conversation", Peter said as he held his temple. "I have a headache, & . . . ".

"Your hair has dry blood in it", Tony stated as he jerked Peter's head around until he found the cause for the blood; a long cut running on the line where the side of the head meets the top of the head & a bruise surrounding the cut. "Do you see what happens when you are reckless? Do you see what Spider-man did to you"?

"I'm fine dad, really", Peter said. He pulled his head away from Tony.

"You're not fine", Tony yelled! Everyone was watching from the doorway. "You're risking your life, getting into fights, & almost dying. You're going against everything I've ever told you & you're lying to me about all of it".

"Because I knew you would just yell at me & try to take away my powers", Peter said. He was starting to calm his tone & start talking more reasonably.

"Which we're doing first thing tomorrow morning", Tony demanded.

"What", Peter asked? "No"!

"No", Tony asked?

"No", Peter yelled. "You had me train like an assassin until I turned twelve so I could defend myself, & now I defend cities. So you are not going to take this away from me".

"It doesn't matter", Tony said.

"Gosh, from everything you've told me & how much you complained about grandpa, you would think that you wouldn't act just like him", Peter yelled in a pit of frustration. Tony froze as the gasps coming from everyone became loud & audible.

Tony turned to Peter with fire spitting out of his eyes, "Get out".

---

"Peter, you can stay here as long as you need", Michelle's mother said as she rubbed his back. "Do your fathers know where you're at".

Peter shook his head slowly.

"I'll call Steve", Michelle's mother said. She grabbed her phone & walked into the other room.

"MJ, he found out", Peter said as he was released from the hug. "We got into a fight... I feel awful, & I just... I just wanted to be like him".