I'm Just Human

Chapter Fifteen

"Could I take this?" Peter interrupts, standing up and already moving towards the back of the bus.

"Yeah, go ahead," Liz mumbles, returning to her flash cards.

"Mister Stark?" he says, holding his phone against his ear.

"I just got a notification, you're leaving New York?" Tony says, sounding disinterested already.

It's been a few weeks since they started weekly lab nights on Tuesday's which has been amazing, and his new suit has been beyond his wildest dreams, but he had texted Happy and let him know he wasn't going to make it the next time. He didn't think it was necessary to say why let alone tell Tony.

"Academic Decathlon," Peter explains. "We have a competition in DC. I think it'll be good for me to get out of the area for a little while. Take a break like you were telling me to."

"Okay... Yeah, just be careful, alright? SHIELD operates in DC now so stay off their radar. The last thing you need is to have them asking questions and snooping around. For both yours and my sake."

"Understood, Mister Stark. Loud and clear." He nods to Ned in a sign that it's good.

"Alright, Underoos. Maybe I can convince your hot aunt to let you come over on Friday instead for a late lab night. I have some ideas for your suit. Please, for the love of god, listen to what I told you earlier and don't keep trying to uncover this thing with The Vulture. Just don't. Alien Tech isn't your business. Alright, I'll let you go. Have fun, kiddo."

"Thanks, Mister Stark! Bye!"

"They're still in Maryland. Looks like you're in the clear," Ned says, looking up from the small hologram tracker in front of him. "You sure you want to keep tracking alien tech?"

"It'll be fine, Ned. Nobody's even going to notice I'm gone."

*

Okay, so maybe people would notice he was gone when he missed all of the decathlon tournament after getting trapped in a warehouse for a night.

And maybe it was dumb to get stuck in a truck and maybe it was dumb to become friends with his AI, newly named Karen. And maybe it was dumb to take everything into his own hands when he climbed the Washington Monument to save his friends.

Now, exiting the building with Karen rattling off his injuries from falling in the elevator shaft, he finally recognizes the people getting out of the elevator.

SHIELD.

Exactly who Tony told him not to get involved with. Fuck.

"-broken ribs, a mild concussion-"

"I get it, K. Tell me later. I've got bigger things to deal with," Peter says, lifting his hands in defense when the uniformed people start rushing towards him.

"Spider-Man! You're coming with us!" one of the men shout, a pair of handcuffs glistening in his hand. "Don't struggle! Cooperate with us!"

"Would you like me to contact Mister Stark?" Karen offers.

"No!" Peter gasps quietly. "Don't call him. I've got this handled."

He's grabbed forcefully and his arms are pinned behind his back, cuffed together and he's being pulled towards the van when Ned rushes over.

"Excuse me, Sir," he exclaims loudly. "Spider-Man saved our lives. We would've died if not for him."

"Let us do our job, son," the man says gruffly. "We're an organization for superheroes or vigilantes. We've got this covered. Go back to your teacher."