When The War Dies Down

Chapter 7

*The Next Day*

He didn't end up going back to school. He got anxiety every time someone did so much as mention the possibility. There was too much stimulation. He was afraid of the panic attacks, the noise, and facing everyone, day in and day out. Not to mention that Flash wouldn't give up, and he didn't need that on top of all the mess going on in his life at the moment.

But out of all of that, what scared and angered him more was talking to the rogues, or his former family. He shut them out since the airport. Or at least, tried to. It was hard to shut out people that had lives with you, and shaped who you were.

But Tony, Cassie and him were finally all together going to talk to them. Peter was bouncing on his feet, and Cassie was holding his hand. She could feel the tension in his body. If they were alone, she might've just kissed him.

The call was going through Jarvis, and all of them waited in nervous anticipation as the other end rang.

"Hey guys!" Scott said on the other side. "You're on speakerphone by the way."

"Hey." Peter said. Cassie didn't say anything and Tony only gave a short huff.

"Are the pardons through yet?" Steve asked.

Tony started to laugh, but it was a stressed, angry laugh. "Yeah, they'll start processing them after we fix the airport, and the council deems you safe to come back."

"How long will that be?"

"Months at the very least."

A curse could be heard from the other end, it sounded like Clint. They heard a soft "language" muffled towards the archer.

"How are Laura and the kids?"

"The kids are great, they're back at school, and all perky as always. Laura though, she's going to rip you apart when you come back."

Another curse was heard, and shuffling was heard in the background.

"How is Bucky? Can I talk to him?"

"He's not here right now." Peter responded.

"What did you guys do? Did you-"

"Bucky chose not be here. We are not doing anything to him. He is free to leave whenever he wishes, and if he wants to talk to you, he knows exactly how to." Tony shot back, surprising the soldier on the other end.

"Yeah, I'm sorry, that wasn't called for, but we need those pardons."

"We told you, they come when they come." Cassie broke in, voice sharper than anyone expected.

"Peter baby, how are you doing?" Natasha joined in the call.

"I'm fine."

"Look I know this is still a lot-"

"I'm not a baby, so you don't have to dumb it down for me, because in case you didn't know, I have a backbone and can come to my own conclusions."

"That's not you speak to your mother." Natasha's voice grew colder.

"I'll talk to you as a mother when you start acting like one." Peter looked like he was going to cry, but he wasn't going to let them win.

"You're too young to understand that this has to happen."

Peter growled. "This never had to happen. You left because you didn't want to face responsibility. You didn't care about the safety of others, or the safety of our family." Peter turned around and tears started to fall. His shoulders began to shake and he tried to hide his face.