The Day After (Spiderman Fanfiction)

Part 6 - Stupid Stark

"So you're trying to create an arc reactor? Like Stark's?" Peter scratched the top his head, looking around at all the supply she had, trying to figure out if she could do it.

"Bingo." She crossed her arms.

Then it clicked in his head. "Tony used palladium." He breathed out.

"Yeah," Barbara sighed, "apparently they don't sell it on your local electronic shop."

Peter smirked under the mask, glad she couldn't see him.

"And other than that part, you got it all figured out?" Peter asked surprised. "Like, you got how he built it? Made it run and all?"

"Well it's not like stupid Stark left a DIY tutorial in his YouTube page" Barbara said sarcastically, it was like she couldn't miss an opportunity to be sarcastic. "But yeah, pretty much, I need a magnetic field to keep the shrapnel away from my heart, and a generator to keep the field running."

"How do you know all that?" Peter asked, "how old are you?"

"Why do you need to know so much?" She smirked, "I'm a smart kid, and I'm old enough to be rolling around alone, okay dad?" She again rolled her eyes, like it was a hobby of her.

"I don't know if it'll work with this" Peter pointed at the power generator, "the voltage is too high, and even if it'll work, you'll have to carry it everywhere."

"It's not like I have a choice Spider Kid," Barbara said, almost desperately, "I don't have a lot time, and unless you're friends with Stark's people, then that's what we got."

Peter was about to say something, then immediately shut his mouth, he was friends with Stark's people, not anymore, but he still knew his way around the places Tony hid his weapons. He wondered what happened with Happy now that he doesn't remember him.

"Spider-Dude, you ok?"

Peter turned to Barbara, she noticed he wanted to say something. "No I- I mean yeah I-" he stuttered, "I think I can help you with that actually."

Her eyes opened wide, "are you serious? Wait are you for real now? You knew Stark?" She seemed stoked, which was nice for a change, Peter thought.

"Um.. Yes, like I knew him, but, it's not going to be easy. I think I know how to get my hand on a Palladium thing or two" he scratched the back of his neck.

"Oh my god, that would be-" Barbara was so shocked she couldn't find the words, Peter thought that maybe she didn't know any happy words. He didn't know if it was smart of him, he didn't know where he'd find Happy, and even if he will, who says he just carries around Stark Industry's stuff. Maybe this was all a mistake. He looked over at Barbara, 'she's gotta be something special' Peter thought to himself, and indeed he found her intriguing, he was dying to know what's her deal was, where she popped out from. "On one condition,"

Barbara looked at him confused, she never thought superheroes did negotiations.

"You tell me everything, who did this to you, why you know all this stuff, and what's your real name." Peter stood up, putting his hands on his waist.

She looked up at him, her tongue poking at her right cheek, "what, wasn't Barbara convincing enough?" She asked with her eyebrows up.

"Oh please," Peter exhaled, "even a person with no spidey sense could tell it was a lie."

She looked at him confused once again, "Spidey what now?"

He threw his hand, "never mind, that's for another time. So, we got a deal?" He held his hand out for her to shake.

"Look, you probably noticed already," she looked at his hand suspiciously, "I'm not one for telling everything, especially to people who wear masks and tights, and calls themselves stupid names like Spider Boy"

"Its Spiderm-"

"I don't care," she cut him again, Peter was sure of it that she knew well what's his name by now, she sighed at last, "if you get me the Palladium, I'll tell you whatever you want," she reached down to shake his hand, not before saying "after, we get my heart out of danger."

"You got yourself a deal" Peter grabbed her hand, shaking it firmly. Peter's mind start racing, he didn't have much time, first thing he'll track down Happy, he must be in town. Then he'll blackmail him. No, no that's a stupid idea. He'll sneak around, then grab one of his weapons for self defense. Peter knew Stark put Palladium in almost every object Stark Industry made. It was one of the powerful electric catalyst that holds nuclear features, the only drawback was that it was expensive, which obviously didn't hold Stark back.

He calculated the time it'll take him, tracking Happy, maybe even going all the way to his wood cabin he only heard of numerous times. He then looked over to the girl, wondering if this is all worth it, he felt that there was something bigger, perhaps it was the people who hurt her, perhaps it was why they hurt her. He suddenly realized he doesn't even know her real name, back to square one. "Just your name," Peter drew her attention, "and I'm taking off."

She looked at him curiously, maybe he was bluffing, maybe he was a lunatic in tights that makes up being friends with Stark. Was it worth it? Trusting him? Why would she tell him her real name if she doesn't even know what's his face looks like. Oh, to hell with it, she was holding on to her life, she'll be lucky to see the sunrise at this rate. She really had nothing to lose. She felt the cuts spread around her body reopening with every step she made. Spiderman really was her last hope, if he wanted to be a super hero might as well give it to him. "It's Ruby."

Spiderman nodded, as if he's considering whether she's telling the truth. "Alright, Ruby," he said convinced, "I'm going, I'll need you to stay here, I'll return in 5 hours approximately-"

"No, no I can't stay here," Ruby cut him off, standing up. All of a sudden she had this scared look in her eyes. "I need to go, I can't stay in one place." She held back from saying more.

Peter turned his head to the side, "what'd you mean? you can't just go, you're bleeding," he stepped closer, she immediately took a step back.

"I-" she looked around her head for the right words, "I have people looking for me, it's too dangerous for me to stay her." She said defeated, Peter thought about how hard it must be for her, exposing so much of her while he gets to stay in his secret identity.

"What peop- Are they the once who hurt you?" He said softly.

She looked up at him, her eyes burning into him, she looked like a small kid all of a sudden, scared for her life. It all fell to place, he knew where he saw those eyes before. 

"I have a place in town," Ruby shook off her fright, dodging Spiderman's question, "I'll write it down for you, I can stay there until sunset, and if you won't make it until then..." Her voice died down, her hand grabbed the pen but she froze. She looked up to him, Peter couldn't identify her look, "then I guess I won't either." She said in a whisper.

She handed him the paper, her handwrite was small and scribbled but Peter could make out the address. He grabbed her wrist gently, wanting her to look him in his eyes, when she did he said quietly "we're gonna make it Ruby."

She pressed her lips together and nodded, then she took her wrist back, starting to pack a backpack which he assumed she came with. She turned to him, pausing her packing, "well what are you waiting for? Go save the day Spiderman."

He smiled, of course she couldn't see it, he turned back and webbed his way out of there.