To Last Forever

Ch. 11

Peter's POV

Dr. Cho let me leave the med bay two days later.  Tony still didn't let me leave the compound or tower for another two days before allowing me back to school.  I tried to act like I didn't have a gaping hole in my shoulder, but it was kind of hard.  Especially when Flash slammed me against the lockers.  I had told Ned, but no one else knew.  I didn't want false pity or attention just because I had been in some freak accident and gotten my shoulder burned.  That's why when I cried out in pain as my shoulder hit the lockers, Flash seemed surprised. 

"What's wrong, Penis?  Too weak to take a hit?"  he taunted.  I pulled away from the lockers so my shoulder wasn't jammed against it then pushed Flash's arms off me. 

"Leave me alone, Flash,"  I replied.  He didn't. 

"No, tell me,"  he said.  "Why are you such a cry baby all of a sudden?"  I tried to just walk around him and leave, but Flash gripped my wrist and my shoulder throbbed at the sudden jerk.  I grit my teeth, forcing myself not to yell again.  "You're such a wimp, Parker."  He let me go and walked off.  I sighed then turned to face Ned again. 

"He's a jerk,"  Ned told me.  I chuckled and agreed with him as we walked to the cafeteria.  The day was half way over and soon I would be able to go back to the tower and just sleep.  I was still recovering from a pretty intense injury and even if I had faster healing than most people, I still wanted to just sleep it off.  That wouldn't be the case, though, so I just followed Ned into the cafeteria to get my food then join Michelle at her lone table.

* * *

When I returned to the tower, it was strangely silent.  I dropped my backpack off in my room then wandered into the living room, looking for Tony.  He had told me to just take the subway since he was a little busy when I finished school, but I didn't mind.  Now, though, I was curious as to where he was.  He rarely ever went to the actually Stark Industries warehouse, but it didn't sound like he was in the penthouse.  Maybe he was downstairs in the offices? 

"FRIDAY, where's Tony?"  I asked, walking into the kitchen to grab a snack.  I jumped up on the counter, something Tony didn't like me doing when he was around. 

"He is currently on the 14th floor talking to General Ross,"  FRIDAY replied.  "He would also like me to tell you to stay off the counters."  I frowned and slid off the counter onto a stool. 

"What's he talking to Ross about?"  I questioned, taking a bite of my apple.  FRIDAY didn't answer.  Instead, she started playing the audio of Tony and General Ross's conversation.  They were talking about something that sounded important, but I wasn't sure what.  Tony seemed pretty adamant about it, though. 

"It's all or nothing, Ross,"  Tony said.  "You either agree to adjust the Accords exactly how they requested, word for word, or we're all quitting."  Whoa, they were talking about the Accords.  I'd only heard a little bit about them, but I knew they were a big enough deal for the Avengers to split up.  Apparently, that's what caused the others to go into hiding, too. 

Ross didn't answer right away.  I could imagine him sitting (or standing; I liked to think of him as sitting though with Tony standing.  It made him look less intimidating), thinking about whether or not to agree to the terms.  I guess he really didn't want to lose Tony's help, because he agreed. 

"Alright,"  Ross said.  "But they can't pull anything and slip in new terms that weren't already written down." 

"Don't worry,"  Tony told him.  "That's the last copy they edited.  Fix it, publish it, and we'll all sign." 

FRIDAY turned off the audio when they stopped talking about the Accords and instead began saying goodbye.  I hadn't really eaten my apple, to focused on listening to the conversation, but as soon as I was no longer listening to them, I began eating my apple again.  It was a really good apple. 

About ten minutes later, Tony arrived upstairs and joined me in the living room. 

"Hey, how was school?"  Tony asked.  I shrugged with one shoulder.  My other one was still pretty sore from Flash shoving me against the lockers. 

"Are the others gonna come live in the tower with us?"  I asked before I could stop myself.  Tony raised an eyebrow at me, but he didn't seem upset that I had obviously listened to him and Ross. 

"How much did you hear?"  Tony questioned.  I shifted on the couch as he looked down at me. 

"Just the 'all or nothing' to when he agreed,"  I told him.  Tony just chuckled. 

"No, they'll probably stay at the compound,"  Tony said.  "They'll come visit often and we'll be out there a lot more, but they'll stay at the compound for the most part." 

"Does this mean everyone can come back?"  I asked.  Tony sat on the couch across from me and nodded.  "And they won't be in trouble for hiding from the government?  Not even Wanda?"  I knew General Ross had an issue with enhanced persons like Wanda.  He had been trying to hunt down Spider-man, but I had so far been able to avoid him.  I didn't understand why he hated enhanced people like me and Wanda, but he was pretty passionate about locking them up. 

"Yeah,"  Tony said.  "Part of the agreement is that enhanced persons are treated the exact same as regular and are not to be locked up any differently than regular persons."  I nodded, glad to hear I wouldn't have to face a shock collar and straight jacket if I ever was locked up by Ross.  "It also said underage people don't have to sign unless a parent or guardian signs for them."  That meant I wouldn't have to sign unless Tony wanted me to. 

"Do I have to sign?"  I asked.  Tony furiously shook his head. 

"No,"  he answered.  "While the Accords are better than before for people like you and Wanda, I still don't trust Ross to not pull something.  You won't sign until you're 53, understand?"  I laughed and Tony smiled.  "Do you want to go patrol New York?"  I nodded.  I was planning on going out as Spider-man tonight, but it was always more fun when Tony came with me.  "Alright.  Go suit up then and I'll race you to Queens."