Shadowbreath: The New Avenger

Chapter 15

(Edit 02/02)

"Parker, if you don't stop tapping your foot, it's coming off." MJ scowled at Peter from across the lunch table.

He blinked out of his thoughts surrounding Alex and the Avengers and placed a hand on his knee to still himself. Peter gave his exasperated friends a sheepish look, "Sorry about that..."

Ned cocked his head, "What is up with you today?" His friend leaned in closer, "does it have something to do with this weekend? You haven't told your guy in the chair what's going on."

Peter grimaced, unsure if he wanted to delve into the story right here at lunch. He whispered to Ned, "I'll tell you later, I promise." His phone buzzed in his hand, finally, and Peter's eyes snapped down towards it.

I AM IRON MAN: God kid, you're almost as wound up as Cap. YES, everything is fine. Nat was with her. My turn next. She's still a sweet fairy princess.

Peter felt a sting of guilt swiping upwards to find his twenty-nine blue text messages unanswered before Tony finally replied. He had been making himself sick worrying about something happening at the compound while he was gone. What if Alex's dad suddenly decided he wanted her back and Peter wasn't there to help stop him? What if she somehow got her cuffs off and escaped herself? There were too many scenarios that could happen, all of which would go a lot smoother if he was there to help.

Not that the Avengers (or what was left of them) couldn't handle it, but he seemed to get along with Alex the best. Peter wasn't sure exactly what it was, but guessed it had something to do with their similar ages, and the fact that they both lost their parents. Whatever it was, he was glad for it. With all of the crap the universe had put him through, Peter just wanted to help people. That's why he became Spider-Man in the first place.

He had the power to help others, so he did. It wasn't any different with Alex, just with a little more talking and feelings than he was used to.

PETER PARKER: Sorry, sorry! I'll be there RIGHT after school. Don't do anything I wouldn't do!

Peter could practically see Tony rolling his eyes-hard. He felt a spike of affection for the man and bit back a smile. He still couldn't believe that he was allowed to call Mr. Stark Tony, and that he had his own room in the freaking Avengers compound. Happy would be waiting outside the school again to pick him up, the first time on a weekday, and Peter was thrumming with anticipation to get back. May hadn't been hard to convince last night to let him visit after school considering the circumstances. Once he explained what they learned about her background, May's face got all scrunched up like it always did when she was upset and she practically demanded that Peter go back to see her. May had insisted that anyone with that awful of a father was in desperate need of friends, whether or not she wanted them.

So, Peter was determined to be her friend.

"Dude!" Ned pushed at his shoulder, and Peter slipped his phone back in his pocket, lifting his hands in defense.

"Sorry, sorry! Paying attention now."

MJ and Ned gave him unimpressed looks, and Peter shrugged. He couldn't help it if his mind was elsewhere.

They continued their conversation about...something or another; the rest of the day followed agonizingly slowly in suit. Almost all of his teachers reprimanded him for his poor focus and Flash continued his usual asshole-ness with not-so-eloquent jabs. After their confrontation with Happy, Flash had toned it down a bit, but it seemed that enough time had passed that his fear of the man was waning away.

When the bell rang, Peter flew out of his desk towards the door, looking back over his shoulder at Ned and confirming that, "Yeah dude, I'll text my guy in the chair" before making a beeline towards Happy.