A Multifandom Collection of Short Stories

15: Homework-Peter Parker

"Why is this so confusing?" you mutter over your history homework. As much as you liked learning and history, you were struggling to write this essay. You had to write it as if you were in America during WW2 and how you would feel if you were there. You don't know why you were struggling so much. This should be easy. But maybe you were just too stressed to focused. "I need somewhere quiet to work on this." You look around at the crowded cafeteria, wishing you could silence all of them. But before you could figure out how to repel sound, you spotted your best friends, Peter and Ned. You smiled and waved them over. Peter slid in to your left and Ned across from you.
"Hey y/n, struggling?" Peter asked, pointing to your blank essay.
"Very," you mumble.
"Hey, I'm gonna stay the night at the Avengers compound. You can come over and talk to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barnes for your essay."
"That's a great idea. You coming, Ned? Study sesh at the AC."
"Can't. Grounded, remember?"
"Oh right." Just then, the bell ending lunch rang. "See you after school, Peter. We can walk there together."
---------------
The rest of the day flies by. When you exit the front door, Peter is there waiting for you. You pull your books closer to your chest. You catch up to Peter on the sidewalk in front of the school.
"Hey, you took forever," Peter says as you approach.
"Yeah, sorry. I had to go to the bathroom," you say.
"I talked to Mr. Rogers and he said he was excited to help you with your essay," Peter says, breaking the awkward silence.
"Oh, that's good. Thanks." The two of you walk in mostly silence the rest of the way to the Avengers compound.
Tony Stark himself comes to the door when Peter rings the bell. You haven't been here that many times, so seeing Tony makes you slightly nervous.
"I expect to hear studying and not making out," Tony says offhandedly, taking his cup of coffee toward the elevator to his labs. You turn to Peter and laugh nervously. He leads you to his room as you ogle at all the things on the wall. You pause when you see a set of framed blueprints for the Mark I Iron Man suit.
"Dude, that is so cool!" you whisper shout to Peter. He shrugs and gives you a crooked smile. "Yeah, you're probably used to it."
"Yeah..."
You get to Peter's room and toss your bags on his bed.
"Mr. Rogers and Mr. Barnes are out right now, but they should be back soon."
"Oh, ok. What do you want to do until then?" You ask.
"Other homework, I guess." Peter shrugs again.
"Yeah, sure," you say, digging into your bag for your English notebook.
---------------
After two hours of homework, snacks, Netflix, and video games, you were frustrated with Steve and Bucky. They still hadn't shown up, and FRIDAY didn't have any updates either.
"I'll need to go home soon," you say.
"No!" Peter says a bit too eagerly. "I mean no, I'm sure they'll be here soon."
"Mr. Parker, Mr. Rogers and Barnes have returned," FRIDAY announces.
"See? Told you." You roll your eyes and follow Peter to the conference room where you agreed to meet Steve and Bucky. You try to get your thoughts together while you wait. A few minutes later, two buff men, and you mean men, enter.
"Ah, you must be y/n!" The man you recognize as Steve Rogers says. "We've heard so much about you!" He smirks at Peter, who blushes and looks to the floor. "I'm Steve. And this is James, but everyone calls him Bucky."
You fake a smile at the two Avengers. "It's nice to meet you. I have a few questions about my history essay?'
"Straight to the point, I like it." Steve grins. "Go right ahead."
"No offense, Captain Rogers, I'm only 'straight to the point' because I have to go home soon, and you and Sergeant Barnes are two hours late."
"Yeah, we're sorry about that, y/n," Bucky says. "We got a little distracted." Steve blushes at the look Bucky gives him.
"First of all, ew. Second of all, you do know my semester grade is riding on this essay, right?"
"We're sorry, really we are," Steve says.
"Anyway, about my history essay..." Peter sits and listens to you discussing World War II with the 100-year-old super soldiers. After another two hours, you glance at your watch.
"I'm sorry Captain Rogers, Sergeant Barnes, but I have to leave now. It's eight thirty, and if I plan on eating anything before bed, I'm going to have to leave now. Thank you for your help with my essay."
"Eight thirty already?" You hear Peter mumble.
"Thank you for coming to us," Steve says. "We had fun helping you, and sorry again for our significant tardiness."
"Apology accepted. I hope to see you soon." You leave the room to go grab your things from Peter's room. He follows behind you. You gather your homework and pack it into your backpack. "I'll see you tomorrow at school Peter."
"I'll walk you to the door," Peter says quickly.
"Uh, sure," you say. You sling your bag over your shoulder, and follow Peter back to the door.
"Bye, Peter," you say after he opens the door for you. The two of you step outside, and Peter shuts the door behind you. "I'm leaving now. Bye Pete."
Peter grabs your wrist and looks down at the concrete step. He takes a deep breath. He sets a hand gently on your cheek and begins to lean forward. His eyes flutter closed as yours fill with horror.
"Peter, I'm gay."
His eyes shoot open and his face drops.
"Oh."
"Sorry, mate."
"I'll see you tomorrow," he says, turning and going inside highly embarrassed.
"Oops," you whisper.