liar liar ⦚ spider-man

ACT III, SCENE IV * Run

Karter hated himself.

Really. No joke. He hated he told Tony, he hated he abandoned Peter, he hated his guts, his choices, everything.

"At least you're hot." Some girl at his table said, after he tried to talk to his 'friends' about it. He'd eventually given up on them, and cried into Michelle's shoulder behind the bleachers as he told her everything (minus Peter's secret. Never again.)

But in that moment, watching as Peter walked away with Derek smiling and leaning into his arms, Karter hated himself for ever thinking he could do what he did to Peter. He loved him more than anything, and if that meant leaving Peter to be happy with Derek, so be it.

The original plan was more of an experiment. Sure, he's know the guy for a long time and had wanted to get to know him but Karter wanted to know if people he was friends with were really popular, or if they were just popular by association. He'd post about Peter on Instagram non stop and the attention from his gay relationship with the hot nerd should have catapulted Peter to the inner workings of the School, if his theory was right.

But he changed his mind.

He cut off ties with those who wanted him to continue, because he'd fallen for the brown eyes beauty he'd started dating to use. He'd abused Peter's trust, and god would he regret it. Peter got enough shit for being trans, damnit, and Karter refused to assist his suffering.

Karter had spoken to Tony about getting Peter top surgery after the other mentioned it a few times. It was meant to be a birthday present for when Peter came of age but now? Karter wasn't sure Peter would want any help from him. Either way, Karter felt assured that he'd planted the seeds of an idea in Tony's head, and that was all that mattered. Peter would be happy. Karter should be happy for him.

"Dude, come on." Ronan said from underneath her hoodie. "The man said he'd meet us at half three, we won't make it if you keep moping." Karter glared at her, and tried to ignore the fact they'd both taken to wearing black clothes and hiding from security cameras. Ronan had moved in with him, avoiding Abby and dropping of the grid.

"You can create portals, dipshit." He reminded her. "We'll never be late to anything." He couldn't see her eyes, but he knew they had rolled. "Don't use that tone with me, missy." Ronan scoffed, and turned around to walk into an alley way.

"You know, you could just talk to him." Ronan said, ignoring the whack it earned her from Karter. "What? I'm just saying. I'm sick of you moping while we are meant to be getting stuff so we can go t-" Karter shoved a hand over her mouth quickly.

"Wise move." Came a voice from the shadows. "You should be more careful." Karter raised an eyebrow as the man stepped from the shadows. He recognised him, but couldn't place it.

"Have you got it?" Karter asked, moving to get the money from his bag. He felt like shit for stealing from Tony, but he definitely couldn't just ask to borrow ten grand for a part of a Chitauri warship to create a machine to-

"Who do you think I am, kid." The man snapped, pulling the blue pulsing sphere from his pocket. "Of course I do." Karter didn't feel like staying to chat, and the exchange went quickly. Next thing he knew, he was banging into his room with Ronan, who couldn't look him in the eye.

"You okay?" He asked, a few minutes later after Ronan had began to tinker with the machine. "What's wrong?" Ronan put down the tool and sighed deeply.

"Karter." She started slowly. "Karter, that man was Liz's dad."