IronDad & Just Dumb Stuff

I Can Explain

Three sleepless nights in a row.

The average life for a High School Junior, especially if you go to Midtown High School, especially especially if your name is Peter Parker and you are the alter ego of Spider-Man.

Peter had just got home from staying after school to finish a test and the only thing he craved more than sleep was to finish his homework.

He was sat down at his desk working for about 10 minutes when, "Peter! I'm home!", a familiar voice called though the apartment.

Peter was honestly shocked and thought she was a burgker for a split second. She's usually home after Peter did his patrol around New York, unless Peter missed his time again. He grabbed his phone, hoping that she was just hone early and he could find an excuse to sneak out, but sure enough, when he clicked his phone on, it was indeed 5:45 pm. Peter frowned to himself, this is the second time this week he missed his patrol hours. Peter sighed in annoyance.

His bedroom door opened and May popped in. "Hey Pete." She smiled and walked over to look at his desk, he smiled up at her in greeting. "Whatcha working on?".

"Spanish." He answered and turned to look down at his work. "Help the poor?" He asked hopefully.

May took a sharp inhale through her teeth. "Sorry honey. I really only remember telling time and numbers." May squeezed Peter's shoulder. He looked up at her and nodded in understanding. "Oh Peter," May said as she gently cuped her nephews face, "have you slept at all?". She sounded genuinely concerned as her thumbs rolled over his cheeks and just under the bags and dark circles that he knew were there.

Peter debated lying but was too tired to properly do it. He shrugged and averted his eyes. A guilty yes.

May put her hands on her hips and stood tall, "I want you to go eat something then go right to bed, mister" she firmly said. Peter hesitated and when he didn't move from his chair May pointed to his door and raised her eyebrows.

"But I got homework. And a project due in math. And I need to write my thesis statement. And I need to catch up in AP chem. And-" Peter tried to protest, but May was stubborn, guess that's where Peter got it from. He got up (with a little pull from May) and walked into the kitchen with her tailing him.

He ate some leftovers from yesterday and smiled at the way May shooed him to his room and closed the door. He knew he should sleep, he really did, but he also had things to do. He can sleep when he graduates.

So since May thinks he's sleeping he could sneak out and go Spider-Maning for a bit, then come back and finish all his work. Easy. So, as planned Peter slipped into his suit and out his window.

~◇~

5 armed robberies/attempted break-ins, 3 illegal goods tradings, 2 alleyway gang fights, and 0 thank you's later Peter was climbing back through his window, bruised, scraped, and sore. His web shooters got slightly damaged, they still worked but not as efficient and the Spider-Man logo projector didn't work, he'd need to fix them in the morning.

"Karen, what time is it?" He asked in a tired sigh as he pressed the black spider on his chest to take the suit off. He stepped out of it as Karen responded.

"9:45 pm." When Peter grumbled his disliking of the time Karen added, "You really shouldn't pull another all-nighter. You might pass out.".

"It's fine, I'm fine. Thanks Karen." Peter said as he pulled his mask off and put it with the rest of his suit which was laying in a pile on the end of his bed.

Peter all but fell into the chair at his desk, he looked down at his Spanish homework which hadn't changed since he last saw it. He stared at it some more and breathed in and out before picking up his pencil and getting to work.