What Tangled Webs We Weave

Chapter Ten

Peter sat in the back of his Dads car as the drove back to Avengers Tower.  After Flash had stopped screaming, Mr. Harrington had given Peter a stern talking to and called his dads, having Peter pack his things.  He had to go home early.

The ride had been completely silent.  Tony hadn't said a word since Peter got in the car.  Just gave him a quick disapproving look. 

They were almost done with the awkward one hour car ride when Tony finally spoke up.

"What the heck were you thinking?"

Peter looked down.  "I'm sorry.  He was just being so annoying, and he-"

"He was annoying?" Tony shook his head.  "You punched the kid because he was annoying you?"

"That's not it!"  Peter looked defeated.  "He was making comments about you guys.  About MJ and Ned.  He's been bothering me for almost my entire school career!"

"I hope you know that we will be the ones paying Mr. Thompson's medical bills."  Tony pulled into the car garage, parked, and then looked back at Peter.  "Pete, why can't you just have one normal week?  I know this is partly me and your Pops' fault, but why can't you just try to go on a trip without getting in trouble?"

Peter stared back at him.  "Dad, I swear.  I don't know what came over me.  You have no idea how much I needed this break.  I just... I just couldn't stand it." 

Tony shook his head.  "Just get inside.  Me and your Pops need to talk, then we'll discuss your punishment."

Peter frowned, grabbed his bag, then left the car.  He marched up the stairs - yes, the stairs.  He was too mad at himself to use the elevator.  Was it a bad idea, considering how tall the tower was?  Yes, yes it was.  But did he care?  No.  No, he didn't.

He dragged himself up the stairs, duffle bag in tow.  By the time he'd get to the top, his Dad and Pops would have already been finished deciding his consequences.  Lucky him.

This went on for a long while.  Jeez, why was this building so tall?  Eventually, Peter reached the floor he was looking for.  He walked out of the stairwell and into the Tv room.  Tony and Steve were talking in hurried, hushed voices.  They looked up at Peter as he walked in and Steve wore a disappointed frown. 

Steve stood up.  "Peter. Sit down."

Peter sighed quietly as he dropped his duffle bag on the floor before walking over to them and sat on one of the empty couches.  This is gonna be fun, he thought.

There was silence for a while before Steve finally spoke up.

"What's been going on with you, Peter? You'd never break some innocent person's nose, let alone punch them! For the past week you've been so distant and off. What's been bothering you?"

Peter wanted so much to just tell them everything. About the men, about Ned, about Flash, about the unanswered messages and calls - but he couldn't. He knew that that would end up getting his suit taken away, and he didn't want that. Plus, that might put them in even more danger. He wasn't going to risk it.

"I don't know." He avoided his parents' gaze. "Just - Nothing."

Tony shook his head. "You're not allowed to
go on missions for a week, got it? And your phone, taken away as well."

Peter's eyes widened. "What?" He felt himself go slightly pale. "But-"

"Look, Peter. We are going easier on you. We understand he was being annoying, and you were just trying to defend yourself, which is why it is only for a week."  Steve shook his head as well and came over to Peter.

"We love you, Pete," Steve assured him, resting a hand on his shoulder.  "We want what's best for you, and that is for you to not get into fights and get hurt.  You're gonna get yourself killed one of these days.  Now, please just give us your suit."

Peter frowned and shrugged his Pops' hand off of his shoulder.  He hesitated before standing up and walking over to his duffle bag.  Slowly, he knelt down, opened it and pulled out his suit.

"You brought it with you?"  Tony questioned.  "Did you use it?"

"Of course not," Peter lied, throwing his suit over at Tony. "There.  Hope you enjoy it."

Peter stood back up, duffle bag in hand. He stormed off to his room, ignoring his parents yelling behind him for him to stay.

Peter slammed his door shut and collapsed onto his bed.  He was done with this.  He hated his parents being disappointed, he hated keeping secrets from them, he hated all of it.

Now, he was without a suit again.  It was easier this time, knowing that it was only for a week, but he was still ticked off.  This was the whole reason he wasn't telling them anything.  So that they didn't take his suit away.

He pulled out his phone.  He was grounded from it, yes, but his dads hadn't confiscated yet, so he was going to use it as much as he could.

He made a call and - surprise surprise- nobody answered.  That certainly made things better. 

"Where are you?"  Peter muttered, opening his other messages.  He had many messages from MJ.

MJ
What happened?
-
MJ
Are you okay?  What happened today?
-
MJ
How grounded are you??
-
MJ
Ned seems really upset, did something happen between you two this morning?
-
MJ
We've got plenty of free time now, call me when you get the chance, okay?

Peter wanted to answer.  He wanted to call her and apologize, but he couldn't.  He couldn't bring himself  to. 

You're acting so pathetic, Peter thought, fidgeting with the phone in his hand.  You're supposed to be Spider-Man, not some overemotional teenager.

What was wrong with him?  Why did he feel like he had been backed up into a corner?  He was so confused, and tired, and-

"Peter?"  FRIDAY's voice brought Peter out of his daze.

He cleared his throat.  "Um, yeah, FRIDAY?"  He tried to as subtly as he could wipe something out of his eye. 

"Your parents wanted me to let you know that they will take your phone at the end of the day.  Also, you've got the press conference in two days, so you will be wearing your suit then."

Peter had completely forgot about that.  The Spider-Man press conference was in two days.  It was a press conference for the press to ask Spider-Man questions. Even though he had been an avenger for almost two years and Spider-Man for almost four, his dads thought they needed to have one. Honestly, Peter couldn't explain their thought process if he tried.

"T-thank you, FRIDAY." Peter slumped against the bed with a sigh, being the dramatic boy he is. This was just great. Everything was going Peter's way.

He crawled over to his desk and opened one of the drawers. He pulled out his spare web cartridge and slid it onto his wrist. He hesitated before webbing the door shut.

He took it off and threw it onto his bed before laying back down on the floor and staring at the ceiling.

Nothing could possibly get any worse, right?