Peter Parker one-shots

Unwanted

Peter couldn’t remember the last time he felt this…alone.

It all started when Aunt May found him sneaking in through his bedroom window late one night. His suit was stuffed in his backpack, and his face was still smudged with dirt and bruises. She didn’t know about Spider-Man, but she could tell something was off.

They argued, louder than ever before. May’s words echoed in his mind, slicing through him with every step he took.

“Peter, I don’t know what’s gotten into you. You’re sneaking out every night, lying, coming home beat-up! I can’t keep doing this, Peter—I love you, but if you can’t be honest with me, maybe you need to go clear your head somewhere else tonight.”

She didn’t know the whole story, and he could tell she was just worried. But her voice was filled with such exhaustion and disappointment that Peter couldn’t bring himself to argue. So, he’d quietly packed a few things and slipped out the door, trying not to let her see the hurt that tightened his chest.

His first thought was to head to MJ’s place. She was his friend, his partner in so much. Surely she’d understand.

When she opened the door, her face softened a little. “Hey, Peter. What’s going on?”

But as he explained himself—stammering, struggling to find the right words—her expression shifted, hardening.

“Peter, look, I… You’ve been distracted for weeks. I mean, even at practice, you’ve barely been there. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but it’s not fair to the team. We’re kicking you off the Decathlon, Peter. I can’t keep covering for you.”

Her words hit him harder than he’d expected. She looked so tired, like all he was to her now was a burden. All he could do was nod numbly.

Next, he tried Ned. His best friend, the one person he’d always been able to count on. When Ned opened the door, Peter managed a strained smile.

“Hey, man. I know it’s late, but…”

Ned cut him off, glancing back over his shoulder where his family was sitting, laughing and talking. He looked uncomfortable, almost annoyed.

“Sorry, Pete. I have family over tonight. And…” He hesitated, like he didn’t want to say the next part. “I’m kinda busy, you know?”

Peter forced a nod, even though he could see the way Ned’s shoulders slumped, the way his eyes darted around. Like he’d been hoping Peter wouldn’t show up.

Peter’s last hope was Mr. Stark. Maybe Tony could give him something to do, a mission to distract him. He knocked on Tony’s office door, standing outside for a long minute before it finally opened.

Tony barely glanced up from his work. “Kid, what is it? I’m kinda busy here.”

Peter took a deep breath, trying to explain himself, but Tony cut him off.

“Look, Pete, I don’t know what you’re expecting here. You can’t just show up whenever you feel like it. I don’t have time to babysit you. You’ve got to learn how to handle your stuff on your own, or you’re not cut out for this.”

The words felt like a slap to the face. Peter just nodded, swallowing hard as he backed out of the room.

As he stumbled down the hall, he found himself thinking about Natasha. She was the one person who had always had a way of cutting through his doubts, grounding him. He thought maybe, just maybe, she’d listen.

He found her in the training room, busy as always. When he approached, she barely looked at him.

“What is it, Peter?”