Secrets And A Spider

-6-

I dusted the metal off before flicking the switch, the suit lit up flickering to life and opening for me to step in. "Welcome back Miss Stark," TUESDAY said, my dad had named her this, because it was the day I was born. "It's good to be back," I smiled at the familiar feeling as I opened my window and jumped out. I let myself fall, flying just before I hit the ground. "Wooooooh!" I screamed as I through my hands up, doing turns as I went higher and higher.

I hovered as I looked down on the facility, I felt like I had a part of me back, but the memory tied to it, wasn't a good one. I sighed as I perched on the roof, at least I was free again, I could go anywhere in the world and just be alone.  To lose myself in my music, to put on my headphones and feel loved again. It may sound stupid but I felt like Sally spoke to me through the music, all my songs, she knew every word to each of them, I would strum on my guitar whilst she sang, sometimes I joined, sometimes I didn't. Now, I felt wrong when I sang alone, without her voice backing me up. "Incoming call from your father," TUESDAY's voice echoed into my ears. "Pick up," I said as his face appeared. "Hey get down here Toot, I want you to meet someone," he told me and I nodded before hanging up and landing on the balcony.

I walked inside and saw none other than Spiderman stood with him. I flipped my helmet back and gave him a confused look. "Uh, dad we've already met." I informed.
"When, and how. Why wasn't I informed?" He asked looking between us.
"I saved her once Mr Stark. And I gave her a lift here." He admitted rubbing his arm. "You what? Saved her from what?" I tried to walk out, but he locked the door. "Riley Stark!" He glared at me from behind his sunglasses and I huffed, walking over. "I got into a bit of trouble, it doesn't matter anyway. Like the wall crawler said, he stopped the guy." I explained. He put his head on his hand, "I swear you kids will be the death of me." He muttered.
"Kids? So Spiderman isn't such a man after all." I joked before walking away. "Bye then mini Stark," the spider called as I walked out throwing them a peace sign.

I walked straight down the corridor and into my bedroom, I sent my suit back onto its stand and sat at my desk, pulling out my homework. As much as I couldn't handle the situation going on, the many equations distracted me. That and the music which was playing at full volume in my ears. I scribbled down the answers to the science homework and quickly slammed my book shut, I realised how angry I was. The anger quickly turning to tears as I sprinted down the corridor. "Hey slow down Tinny" Sam laughed, the nickname being a mix of tin and tiny. "Shut it bird boy!" I yelled back, as I darted into the training room, pressing the button on my way in to bring the 'super soldier' punchbag down. It was designed to stay up, no matter how hard Steve hit it. I took deep breaths, before letting the visions consume me, the pain and loss all gathering into a fiery rage as I punched and kicked without fail. The bag swung after each blow as I saw Sally's body drop to the floor again, just like in my nightmares, except this time I was awake, I screamed as I hit it one last time ducking as it flew back at incredible speed.

"Hey Rie. Wanna talk?" I turned, it was Steve. "No I'm good Uncle Steve," I replied as I sat down to take a breath. "You forgot to wrap your hands again." He stated sitting beside me. "Well I guess it's hard to remember when you rush into it." I joked and he sighed wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Flashbacks? I know that look you had, a look I have when I train. You go blind as you see everything that makes you hit harder, until it disappears and you give it your all." He said as I looked at him. "What is it for you? What do you see last?" I asked.
"Bucky. I lose him again and again, and yet it never changes. The loss." He responded.
"Sally. I see her before it disappears." I whispered as I held back a sob. He hugged me before pulling out a picture from his pocket. "He would love you. Honestly, you would have to place me third on the uncle leaderboards." He said handing me the picture. I examined the man, the picture was black and white so I couldn't make out the colours of his eyes or hair but I still saw every detail. "Took this the last time I spoke to him, hours before he went away again," he told me as I ran a finger over the picture. "Keep it. That way if you ever run into him on your adventures, you can tell him that I still remember him for who he was." I smiled placing the picture into my phone case before standing up and hugging Steve goodbye. "Thank you," I mumbled as I left and headed to the main room.