No Pain No Gain

Chapter 3

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Peter was still unconscious even by morning. He had suffered from a minor concussion but a had a pretty fatal brain tumor growing.

Ever since Bruce had declared the number of bruises that had littered his spine and torso, both Steve and Tony had refused to sleep, eat or do anything else. Steve even skipped going down to the gym just to sit by Peter and wait. Waiting for him to open his eyes.

The couple had a conversation. "How could Peter not have told us he had a brain tumor? We're his fathers God dammit, we should have been the first to know Steve! The first to see the signs!" Steve sighed, having already recovered from his panick attack earlier.

He rubbed soothing circles on Tony's back. "I don't know. But I'm sure Peter has a good reason for it." They were internally beating themselves to a bloody pulp for it. For not noticing sooner. But soon, exhaustion overwhelmed concern despite the amount of caffeine they took.

It had been three days when Peter had finally opened his eyes. But when he did, no one was there to see it. "Pops? Dad?" But it had come out more like, "Fwops? Thad?"

He had a transparent tube stuck in his mouth. The window curtains were fluttering in the night, the translucent fabric allowing small rays of moonlight to enter the empty medical room. Peter got up, dragging the iv bag with him. He was looking around him.

"Peter?" Peter nearly jumped back in shock were it not for the familiarity that came with the red mercenary who was leaning against the wall in front of him looking a little smug himself.

"Wade?"

Deadpool aka Wade Wilson had saved his life one too many times to count. The red and black mercenary took a step forward.

"Petey. You look like you've been hit by a bus that dropped down a cliff!" He laughed but it was filled with more concern than humour.

Peter shook his head in disbelief. Even being a wanted killer, Wade still had room for laughter in his odd personality.

He took a tiny step forward and Wade took a tiny step back.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Peter asks obviously confused by the merc's unnatural behaviour. Wade put a finger to his chin and stroked it like an old man. Then all of a sudden, he jumped up, causing Peter to nearly fall backward into his IV.

"Oh that's right! It's supposed to be a dream. I'm dead. Good-bye!" And just like that, the mercenary disappeared into thin air like a magician's act and Peter woke up for real.

Steve and Tony were there beside the hospital bed. Worried sick as ever. Their heads were resting on either side of him, each hand holding each one of his.

Peter tried to smile. Knowing them, they probably have not slept a wink or eaten a morsel in who knows how long he's been unconscious.

Wait. How long was he unconcious?

"Dad? Pops?" He had difficulty speaking as he found a clear tube stuck down his throat and an oxygen mask attached to his mouth. Fog appeared when he talked.

Steve was the first to jerk his eyes open and hug his son. Tony soon mimicking his husband's actions.

"Peter. Oh God. We were so worried." There were evident tears in their eyes as both of his parents looked at him with wide eyes, like some sort of miracle had happened. And in a way, it did.

"Yeah buddy. Thank God you're okay. But." Peter could tell that Tony had been holding his anger. Then Peter realised. After the incident they must have did multiple scans on him to make sure he was alright.

He gulped but it hurt his throat just to do so. "Peter Parker Stark Rogers." His voice was getting dangerously low.

"HOW COULD YOU NOT HAVE TOLD US YOU HAD A BRAIN TUMOR!?" He burst. His face was fuming red and Peter could have sworn he saw smoke bellowing out from the billionaire's ears.

"Tony-" Steve started but was cut off.

"NO! I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS STEVE! JUST WHEN WERE YOU PLANNING ON TELLING US, HUH?! WHEN YOU WENT OFF TO COLLEGE? YOU COULD HAVE FUCKING DIED PETER BECAUSE OF THAT! ANSWER ME NOW!"

His voice was loud. Some of the medical staff had turned to see what all the comotion was about.
"Tony!" Peter cringed at his father's voice. Tears welled and he was crying. Not for himself but for the pain his dads must have felt.

"M-Sorry. I-I didn't k-know how to t-tell you guys." Peter was full out stuttering as he tried to look away at the extremely disappointed look Tony was giving him.

God this was not exactly how he imagined this talk would go. Sure he had rehearsed the answer in his head like a billion times ever since he had gotten the doctor's note (it was a one time acception as Bruce was not around). But the answer he gave was different.

"You guys have a lot on your plate already. Dad and Stark Industries. Pops with finding Bucky and Hydra. I just. I guess I just didn't want to be another heavy burden." The words left his lips leaving both Tony and Steve speechless.

Peter felt like the entire world was against him as he looked ashamed. He knew how much his dads were suffering internally with their own problems. And with them having to put on a brave face everytime they were really feeling terrified, Peter just didn't want him to be the extra load next to the everyday shit they had to deal with as Iron Man and Tony Stark and Captain America and Steve Rogers.

"How long?"

It was almost a whisper, but he heard it. Steve stared at Peter, not like how Tony was. There was absolute fear present in his eyes.

"Five months." More tears.

"F-FIVE MONTHS!?" Steve shouted. He was in his Captain America mode, all serious and military.

"THAT IS EXTREMELY SEVERE!" Both of his dads were shouting now. Peter just wanted to crawl up inside a hole and die. Oh how he wished that he had died earlier.

"THAT'S IT! NO MORE BEING SPIDER-MAN, YOU ARE DONE! IS THAT CLEAR!" Peter was staring at him wide eyed. Stop being Spider-Man? How could he ever do that? Spider-Man was a second part of him. He couldn't just abandon it.

"B-But Pops! You can't do that! The people need me! You can't just stop me from being who I am! You can't just stop me from doing my job!" But the look said it all. When Pops said it, you know he means it.

"I said. Is. That. Clear." Peter's mouth was hardened into a thin line. "Crystal."