Survivor

15. Go left

"If nothing goes right... go left."

Peter sat happily on a bar stool as Vision pulled out some ingredients for pasta. Wanda sat beside Peter and subtley supervised Vision's culinary expedition.

"So, I just realized I don't know your name." Wanda told him. "I'm Wanda." She stuck out a hand, and found the younger boy hesitating. "I... uh... don't usually tell people my secret." He explained quietly, and Wanda felt sudden understanding from her own experience of having to hide who she was.

"It's alright. We won't tell anyone. You don't even have to tell us your surname." She smiled and Spidey nodded. "I'm Peter." He announced finally, shaking Wanda's hand. She felt a sudden tug remembering her brother Pietro - their equivalent to Peter. "What a strong name." She chuckled.

Finally, Peter felt comfortable enough to take his mask off. He had extra insentive to remove the fabric since it was in the way of him eating spaghetti.

Wanda was shocked by dark brown curls piled on the top of a youthful, surprisingly innocent face with the most beautiful chestnut eyes she had ever seen. Peter accepted his food gratefully and started eating it quickly, smiling and chatting totally unbothered that the people he spoke with had nearly killed him only hours earlier. Wanda found herself wondering again how this kind, honest, innocent boy got dragged into such an unforgiving, painful world. She noticed a fading bruised on his temple as Vision handed her some spaghetti and almost wanted to cry. It wasn't fair.

It just wasn't fair.

After eating the entire pot of spaghetti - minus a serving for Wanda - Peter thanked Vision. He washed his plate and put it back in the cupboard, chatting to Vision about how cool his origin story was. He was an android? Peter had always wanted to make one, but never had enough parts.

Vision learned several things about Peter in a short conversation that endeared him to the boy. First and foremost was his unbelievable ability to forgive, but he was also incredibly smart, optimistic, and determined. His Aunt didn't have very much to spare for his hobbies so he found supplies on his own.

Vision also found out the one topic Peter jumped away from was that of his Uncle. Vision decided not to press him on it - it was none of his business anyways.

"I can't believe you ate all that pasta!" Wanda exclaimed as they were walking back through the compound. "You know what's even worse? I think I could eat more!" Peter laughed and Wand turned him left towards the sitting room. They walked in to find a lull in the conversation; it was obvious Cap and Tony had just had a fight by their body language and facial expressions.

"Well, I discovered our young friend here is a bottomless pit." Wanda exclaimed as they walked in, and the Avengers were surprised when the boy following her was not wearing a mask but instead had the most brilliant smile. "Want to know my secret? Hollow leg." He joked, running a hand through his wild curls.

Natasha pinched her lips together as the boy sat down, still laughing and happy. That boy was impossibly young, and adorable, and innocent. And she almost killed him.

"Compromise?" Cap grumbled suddenly, and Peter snapped back to paying attention to whatever he missed. "We will stay in the compound, and to public eyes only operate under government direction. But we can do covert missions that will not be connected to you or the Avengers." Steve suggested. Tony sighed and looked at his past friend. He was suggesting they be friends again. Could he do that?

He shook his hand.

"Guess we'll be seeing a lot more of you." Scott told Peter, sitting on the other side of him. "And I don't even know you're name."

"Well, um, I actually don't live in the compound." Peter explained sheepishly. "I can't leave Queens... you know... school. But my name's Peter!" He stuck out a hand which Ant-Man shook absently. So this kid who looked like he was a high schooler... actually was a high schooler. That wasn't discomforting at all. Totally didn't make Scott look at the videos in a whole new light.

Peter looked at his watch suddenly and stood with a yelp. "Oh spades! I have to go! I have to get home!" He explained hysterically, grabbing his mask from the table. "Aunt May is probably worried sick! And Ned! Oh sparks! Thanks for the food and thank Dr. Cho for me!" Peter spoke quickly, waving goodbye to the Avengers and pulling his mask on.

"Good luck with school!" Scott couldn't help but yell, and Falcon looked at him with raised eyebrows. "He's actually in school?" He asked in disbelief. "And he lives with his Aunt. And has a curfew." Rhodey finally spoke up, after observing the precedings.

"And he defeated all of us and Loki." The man finished, and the room was left in stunned silence, thoughts heavy on everyone's minds.

More fluff because there hasn't been enough of that. Expect fluffy angst to come! And lots of drama because who doesn't love suspense?
Sorry this chapter was slightly shorter (only by 100 words tho pffff)
Yah. So.

~Meow