Dust - On Hiatus

'Guy in the Chair'

"Ned?"

"Hey bro! What's up?"

"Nothing at all."

"SHIELD hasn't let you out yet?'

Peter sighed. "Nope. And I'm not sure that they're going to. Unless I come up with some solutions. I need your help, man."

"Understood. 'Guy in the chair' duties commencing now."

Peter laughed. Leave it to Ned to cheer him up. And hopefully, he would have some good solutions. 

"Thanks, man. I just wish SHIELD would lighten up, you know? I mean, they're still letting me use my phone but they're even reluctant about that. Like people even care enough to try to track me."

"Dude, you don't know what it's like out here. You're all anyone talks about. It's crazy. The other day, someone asked Flash how he felt about Spiderman now and the guy nearly had a mental breakdown."

"Seriously?"

"I guess Flash probably feels pretty conflicted. I mean, finding out that your idol is the guy you make fun of every day has got to be tough."

Peter smiled, turning around when he heard the door to the apartment open.

"I guess...So hey, I should probably go. I think May's back from work."

"Cool. Hope to see you soon, dude."

"You too."

May's keys rattled as she tossed her coat and bag on the table, before tiredly sinking into a chair. SHIELD had managed to keep the information that May was Peter's aunt secret, and so far no one had connected her to the famous web-slinger. This had allowed her to keep her job and to go about her life basically as normal, except for the sulky teen superhero constantly moping around their apartment.

"Any news from SHIELD?" she asked, turning and giving Peter a hug. He morosely shook his head.

"I got to talk to Ned today," he said, brightening up. "He's gonna help me come up with some solutions. I was thinking something along the lines of a new superhero identity."

"I don't know, Peter...that sounds dangerous. People out there are feeding off of the lies of the media, and with a lack of actual updates, the rumours are getting crazier and more harmful."

"What do you mean?" he asked, noting something suspicious in the way his aunt wasn't meeting his eyes.

"I'm not going to tell you all of the theories, Peter. Most of them are completely random and don't mean anything."

"No, that's not it. There's something else, something big. What is it?"

May sighed, then seemed to come to a decision. "The Avengers are scattered. They haven't been in the public eye and as a result, none of them have been refuting the claim that you're evil. People have been saying that maybe this has been going on for a while. That maybe you betrayed them, or just weren't good enough."

Peter shook his head, still not getting it. "I don't understand...what do you mean?"

"Well, people know that you were there when the Avengers fought Thanos on Titan." She took a deep breath. "They're saying that maybe you're the reason they lost."

And Peter's heart stopped. Rushing filled his ears, along with a sudden, overwhelming feeling of complete and utter suffocation. He sunk into a chair, numbly feeling May put her hand on his shoulder. He didn't understand how people could think that. He gasped, wrenching breaths making their way past his lips. He shook his head, over and over again.

"I don't-why would people say that? I-I've saved people! I help them! I would never..." he trailed off, helpless.

"I know," his aunt said, pulling him into a hug. "And anyone who knew you would know that too. It's just twisted people who have nothing better to do with there lives. Nobody who really matters would think that."

"I know. I just wish that people knew the truth, y'know?" Peter stood up, a frustrated look on his face. "It's like, everybody wants to know more about me. But they don't want to know the real me, they just want more gossip on the 'kid avenger' or whatever they're calling me. They don't even care if it's true."

"I actually do have some good news," May said, reading a text on her phone. "I've been talking with Pepper, and she is going to make a statement as the CEO of Stark Industries that announces an investigation in the credibility of the footage, and that pubicly puts Stark Industries firmly on the side of supporting Spiderman."

"That's awesome, May. Hopefully, they'll find something." Though if SHIELD couldn't find a way to prove that the footage was faked, Peter doubted that Stark Industries could. Beck may have been a villain, but he was also a genius, with a team of geniuses backing him. The guy was good, but Peter should've been better. She gives him a soft smile as if anticipating his thoughts.

"What should we have for dinner?" he asked, changing the subject. He didn't need to hear more of the endless refrain of encouragement that seemed to be on everyone's lips these days. He'd messed up, and he accepted that. Now he just had to figure out how to move on.

"I was thinking pasta," May said, with a look that let him know she wasn't fooled by the sudden topic change. Peter's reluctance to talking about his feelings had been a frustration for her, and for Peter's friends. He would talk out most things, but when it came to his perceived failure, Peter was over talking it through. May had let it go since he seemed alright.

"Um...I was thinking that it might be nice if Happy joined us for dinner. Give you to a chance to talk," his aunt said casually, pulling ingredients out of the cupboards. Peter laughed.

"I know what this is about. You just want a chance to see your 'summer fling'."

May glared at him. "Actually, we've decided to try dating for a while. He's going to take me out after we have dinner."

"Ooh, someone's got a boyfriend," Peter teased in a singsong voice. His aunt blushed but held her ground. "Yes I do and you're going to be nice to him, young man, or I will revoke your phone privileges."

Peter quickly backtracked, seeing that his aunt was serious. "Fine, fine. I was only joking anyway..."

"Sure," his aunt said. "I'm going to go shower and change. Please set the table, and if Happy arrives let him in and be polite!" she admonishes, her voice trailing off as she enters her room.

"Sure, sure," Peter said, grumbling but smiling. He liked seeing his aunt so happy, even if the thought of her and Happy 'dating' made him want to gag a little.

Peter set the table and started the pasta, before sitting on the couch and scrolling through his fake instagram account. He had set up all fake accounts so that he could still use social media without being bombarded by dozens of hate-posts and people wanting to become his friend because he was an Avenger. Those were the worst.

The doorbell rang, and Peter slid over on his sock feet before pulling it open. Happy stood in the doorway, looking about as pleased with the situation as Peter was.

"Hi kid," he said, clearly peering around him looking for May.

"Hey Happy," Peter said, deciding to go easy on the guy. After all, he had had his back in Europe, and Peter couldn't have beaten Mysterio without him. "May's just getting ready. She'll be out soon. I hope you like pasta," he finished, turning and leading the way into the living room.

Dinner was awkward, but when May made Peter laugh so hard he snorted spagetthi up his nose, even Happy had to crack a smile. Peter was just grateful for any time he got to spend with his aunt. He guessed that if she had to date someone, Happy was probably as good as it got.