Not the Only Ones

The secret weapons

North Carolina in a small apartment Peter sat focusing on his card house. He moved so slowly and didn't take his eyes off of it. He was almost done when he heard a small scream coming from the next room.

"Charlotte?" He yelled and raced to the kitchen knocking over his masterpiece.

"I'm ok, I just cut my finger." Charlotte said her finger covered in blood.

"Here, just put pressure on it." He said grabbing a napkin and putting it on her finger.

"Do you think you need stitches?" He asked looking at her.

"No I'm ok, it just nicked me." Charlotte said.

"Ok, are you sure you are ok?" Peter asked.

"Peter look at me." She said gently grabbing his face. "I am ok. I'm right here." She said.

"Ok. Sorry." Peter said calming down.

"Don't be sorry, you have every right to still be shaken up." Charlotte said. Peter looked into her eyes and smiled. He hugged her and rested his head on her shoulder.

"Ok, so just so we don't have another finger cutting massacre how about we just order a pizza instead." Peter smiled letting Charlotte go.

" sounds good to me." Charlotte smiled. That night they sat on the couch watching a random movie. Charlotte ended up falling asleep half way through the movie. When the movie ended peter looked over at her and smiled. He gently picked her up and put her in her bed. Then he walked back out and cleaned the dishes. He sat down back on the couch and fell asleep himself. He began to have a nightmare.

He was back in the war. But this time Charlotte was there all along. They were fighting and Charlotte ended up getting killed. Peter jumped up to see someone standing in front of him. Without thinking he pushed them to the ground. The person fought back but at that moment peter was stronger.

"Jeez Kid is that any way to greet me?" Tony asked on the ground.

"Mr. stark? What are you doing here? Sorry about that." He said getting off of him and helping him up.

"I was going to knock but I thought this was much more mysterious. Anyway I wanted to see how things were." Tony said fixing his suit.

"Things are good. I mean for the standards we are in." Peter said.

"Do you get those night terrors often?" Tony asked.

"Every night actually. I've learned to wake myself up. It's the same thing every time." Peter sighed.

"The war?" Tony asked.

"Yeah." Peter sighed.

"How's Charlotte?" Tony asked.

"She's good. I'm trying to protect her the best I can." Peter said.

"Look at you growing up, soon I'll have to stop calling you kid. But there is another reason I'm here." Tony said.

"What's going on?" Peter asked.

"Some of Bram's friends were heading to Pennsylvania, so they are out there. I got
Mia and Steve and T'Challa together but I don't want you or her anywhere them. Just stay hidden at all costs." Tony said.

"But what if you need us?" Peter asked.

"I don't want you getting hurt or Charlotte dying...again. I'll have you two as a secret weapon if I need you guys. Until then don't go outside unless absolutely needed." Tony said.

"Ok mr. stark, if you think that's what's best. But I don't want anyone else getting hurt." Peter said.

"Don't worry we will take care of it. For now keep this to yourself. If Charlotte finds out she will be at the tower in a second. Take care Kid." Tony said and flew off.

*the next day*

Peter sat back down and started his card house again. He was so close to finishing it when Charlotte walked out of her room.

"You know using web to make it stay is cheating right?" Charlotte asked walking into the kitchen.

"It's not cheating if anyone sees it. So let's keep this between us." Peter said concentrating.

"I'm probably going to run out later on. We can't keep living off of pizza." Charlotte smiled.

"Uh- No!" Peter said his voice higher because he was panicking.

"What do you mean no? I know pizza is great but come on." Charlotte laughed.

"No...I mean, let's just stay inside today." Peter said.

"Peter I know you are trying to protect me but, I'm ok really." Charlotte said.

"I'll go out. Just tell me what you need." Peter said standing up.

"Don't be silly it will take 5 minutes." Charlotte said reaching the door knob. Peter panicked and webbed her hand to the knob

"You can't leave." He said.

"Don't you think you're being a little ridiculous? What's going on peter?" Charlotte asked.

"I can't tell you." He said.

"Why? Is it that bad?" She asked.

"Yes. I'm really sorry Charlotte but I can't." Peter said.

"Since when are you keeping secrets?" Charlotte asked ripping her hand out of the web and walking up to him.

"Listen to me, I'm trying to protect you." Peter said.

"By locking me in this apartment?" Charlotte asked.

"Charlotte please don't be mad. But you have to trust me on this one." Peter begged grabbing her hands.

"Ok." Charlotte said knowing how serious peter was being.

That night the two ended up having a monopoly marathon while watching glee. They had pizza for the hundredth time but they were happy. And that's what matters.

"I wonder how everyone is doing, where ever they are." Charlotte asked to herself.

"I miss them too. I didn't think going off the grid would be this long." Peter said. Charlotte sighed.

"Hey, you remember how we met?" Peter asked.

"What how you flew into me and face planted?" Charlotte laughed.

"Yeah, the funniest part was, before I ran into you, I was on my way to ask tony if I could take a break from being Spider-Man. Thank god I forgot about it after I ran into you." Peter said.

"Why did you want a break?" Charlotte asked.

"I don't know, I was in a bad place I guess. I was doing the same thing everyday. Going to school, getting called a loser, coming home, eating, doing homework and going to bed. I just didn't feel like doing anything anymore. I was in a slump I guess you could say." Peter sighed.

"Man, I would have never guessed, you always seem so happy." Charlotte said.

"That's because you were always there." Peter said. Charlotte smiled.

"Me and Bucky would go back and forth, him making fun of my crush on you and me making fun of...well him in general. That's when we had to start training and I had to sit and watch. That's when I had more time to think and thank god bucky came and gave me his job cause I almost quit again." Peter said.

"Do you still want to quit?" Charlotte asked.

"I don't know. I hate putting people in danger. And believe me if it means that I could keep you save I would quit in an instant." Peter said

"But you know someday we will have to get back to fighting." Charlotte said.

"I know, let's hope that doesn't happen for a while."