Courage and Calamity 🕸 Peter Parker [2]

1- Vacation Getaway

"Summer Vacation is gonna rock!" I announce, beaming. "No homework, and nobody's trying to kill me at the moment, its great."
   "Did you pick up your passport?" Peter asks me. 
   "I'm good with my passport until I'm 26. I'm fine." 
   "That's good. I've got to go pick mine up later today." 
   I furrow my eyebrows in thought. "Random question, how do I still qualify as a high schooler if I've been stuck in a super soldier freezing chamber for five years?" 
   "What?" 
   "Nothing. You kinda had to be there." 
   "Okay, then." Peter standing up from his place on the roof. Below us is the city, bustling and still not pollution free, but that's why we're above it amongst the skylines. "Well, I guess I've got to get to whatever it was I was getting to." 
   "Another charity event?" I ask. 
   "Um, no. Errands for May." 
   "So, not a charity event?" 
   "No, not this time. I'll see you at school tomorrow." 
   "Yeah, I'll see you." 
   Peter turns to leave, but he stops, looking across the street to the building opposite to us. "I forgot that was there." 
   "What was where?" I join him on the edge of the rooftop. 
I spot a mural that someone had done, really nice actually. 

A red and yellow painting on the brick of Ironman. I exhale slowly, "I know. I miss him too. I miss him and Cap." 
   "But Captain America is still alive." 
   "He's an old man, Peter. He's only past normal human expiration dates because he's a super soldier." 
   "At least you still have him. Mr Stark was the only thing I had close to a dad." 
   I stare at the mural, "there are thousands just like this one. When we lost Tony, the whole world lost him too. Some people move on, but... we have to eventually." I take his hand,  "we need to move on." 
   "You knew him longer than I did. How are you moving on?" 
   That was true, I did. The only way I can respond with is, "I don't know." My voice trembles a little saying the sentence aloud. Its easier said than done. 
   Peter notices the fluctuation in my pitch and grips my hand tighter, a comforting gesture. "The world needs another Ironman," he decides after a long moment. 
   I glance up at him, "no, its doesn't." 
   Peter looks down at me. 
   "It doesn't," I repeat. "It has us. It still has the Avengers. There's a legacy left." 
   "A legacy?" he questions stiffly. 
   "A legacy is planting seeds in the garden you never get to see grow." 
   "You got that from Hamilton." 
   Although I am touched that Peter pays attention to my obsessions, this is not my point. I continue, "hearing that reminded me that we are the seeds. We're the legacy. All of us." 

Peter does not look back a the mural. His focus is on me. My eyebrows knit slightly at the sight of a stray tear dripping down his cheek. With my free right-hand, I wipe it away with my thumb. My hand rests on his face as I gaze at him. 
   "I'll see you at school," Peter finally tells me. It was like listening to a broken record that refused to play a song. Sad. 
   I let go of him, "I hate Mondays." 
   A smile gradually emerges on his face, "I know you do." 
   "You know what I don't hate?" 
   "What?" 
   "Our dope summer vacation where we're going aboard," I manage a grin. 
   "Yeah, I heard Italy's great this time of year." 
   "Really?" I raise my eyebrows. 
   "Actually, not really. But I know its gonna be great because you'll be there." 
   "Okay, do you want something from me, Peter?" I tease. 
   "No, um... maybe this," he kisses me. Totally taking me by surprise. 
   I blink rapidly, "you took the rug right out from under me on that one." 
   "And I'll take more than that." He stops instantly, "that sounded really bad." 
   "Yep," I reply awkwardly. 
   "I-- I didn't mean that. That backfired. It sounded way better in my head."  
   "Uh huh." 
   "I'm-- I'm gonna go now before I say anything worse." 
   "I just remembered, I have someplace to be," I quickly say. "But I'll see you." 
   "Yeah, see you later." 

... With my mask in my grip, I look out at the city lights. I can't say New York City has grown on me, but I prefer the countryside. Sure, I've lived in the burbs before, but there's just something missing. There's no privacy, though I wouldn't say being out in the middle of nowhere is great either. I just need to get out and see the world to know where I actually belong, I guess. 
   I put my mask on and inhale the cool air. 
  "Some view, huh?" someone asks me. 
   I jump and turn around wildly. I ease up at the sight of June leaning on an air vent. "What brings you to the top?" 
   "A stupid party that I left. You come here often?" 
   "No," I tell my friend. She still doesn't know its me. 
   "Taking a break? It must be hard fighting crime all the time." 
   "Not all the time. Sometimes." 
   "Its summer, so do you think you'll be going anywhere? Probably not, because the city has to be saved." 
   "I was thinking that I'd go international, just incase." 
   "That makes sense, because you're an Avenger, right?" 
   "Yeah," I nod slowly. "Yes, I am. I'm an Avenger." 





Author's Note: 
Its short, but its just an idea of how things are going to be. Yes, it will be action-packed. Yes, it will be emotional and tragic. Yes, Quentin Beck is oddly attractive-- wait, what? 
I've got fight scenes coming up and its gonna be craaaazy. Also, Brad is gonna pose a threat, and that's going to be interesting. 

Got questions? Ask away and comment anywhere. If you liked this part, be sure to give it a vote! Byeeeeeeeeee!
   ~ SHIELD-Avenger