Superhero? •PETER PARKER•

Chapter 29

I shift not wanting to open my eyes. I must have lost a lot of blood to make me blackout like that. I flutter open my eyes and see Peter next to me taping up my arm with some webs. I notice my shoulder is cold. He must of ripped that part of my costume to try and heal it up. He has his suit on but no mask. I see a night sky behind him but it's hard to tell because the city lights are making it hazy. He looks at me. "Hey, you aren't dead," he says lightly. I laugh a bit and wince in pain as it floods back to me. My should is burning and my wrist is throbbing. I want to scream but I hold it in for his sack.

"I got shot," I say through gritted teeth, he nods helping me sit up. I then realize we are on the rooftop we like so much, we always seem to end up here. "Peter," I say wince at the pain.

"It's okay," he says. "I webbed up the wound and got the bullet out. I also wrapped up your wrist the best I could. It's just sprained it's not broken," he explains. I look down and see what looks like an ace wrap made out of webs.

"Thanks," I say lightly. He nods. I sigh and feel his thumb running back and forth on my other hand. I furrow my brow in confusion and look down. Sure enough his thumb is moving slowly back and forth on the back of my hand. I look at him and he is focused on something on his phone.

"Now from what is says online," he starts shifting a bit but not removing his hand. "The wound shouldn't get infected if you clean it everyday and keep a bandaid on it with some cream or something," he says looking up from his phone and over at me. We make eye contact and I glance down at our hands. He looks down as well and removes his hand. "Sorry," He says awkwardly. "You, were in a lot of pain and kept screaming in your unconsciousness and I thought you were having another fit so I've been doing that," he features to my hand. "Whenever I could, it seems to calm you down," he says once again getting more awkward with every word.

"Peter it's fine," I say with a light smile. "You were a really big help today, thank you." He nods. I try to stand up and wince a little from my shoulder.

"You might consider an Advil or two," he says. "That usually helps my pain."

"Maybe ten?" I say jokingly. He laughs a little.

"I don't know about that," he says. I smile a bit and start walking towards the stairs. "Stella," he calls to me. I turn and look at him. "Why is it you can heal me, but not yourself?" He asks. I look at him with a little confusion in my face.

"I don't know," I say lightly. "Why can you sense when a bullet will hit you in the shoulder and I can't?" I ask. He rolls his eyes a little shaking his head.

"I don't think that's the same thing," he says.

"But it's something to wonder," I say waving to him and going down the stairs of a near by fire escape. I vowed to never go through the building since the last time I almost got killed by Kingpins thugs.

Saturday seemed to come a lot quicker than I thought it would. The big game from last night was a big win for the Tigers. Crazy how people can celebrate such a small victory when things like the blip exists. I sit up and wince a little stretching my shoulder and trying to move my wrist. Both are still extremely stiff but getting better. I wrap my wrist in the web ace wrap, which strangely no one has really noticed, and patch up my shoulder. My dress isn't gonna look nearly as good with these injuries. I sigh and grab my phone to see if I have any messages. I have a couple from Betty about when we are gonna start getting ready, even though we aren't going to do that together, and when to meet up at Peter's. The other text I have is from Jason confirming we are still going together. I text him back a simply yes and put my phone down. I look at the clock and decide it's a sweatpants kind of day. I get dressed and throw my hair up walking out of my room. My dad snaps a picture of me with his phone. "Dad!" I whine.

"I wanted a before picture on your homecoming day! You know we do this every year," he explains. I roll my eyes and get some orange juice from the fridge. "How's the wrist?" He asks.

"Dad it's fine," I say wincing a literal as I lift the juice to pour it.

"And the shoulder?" He asks.

"Fine," I say with more attitude.

"Well honey I'm gonna be concerned. When you come home late and tell me you were mugged it concerns me," he says.

"I also told you Spider-Man was there to save the day," I say holding up my wrist to show the webs. "See. He even wrapped me up," I say waving it a little in his face.

"Honey I know, I just," he pauses and brings me into a hug. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to you," he says. I sigh and hug him back. I didn't want anything bad to happen to me either. I didn't even want this in the first place. Now look at me! Bullet wound and a sprained wrist. What happens when the bullet isn't in my shoulder and hits my heart? Who's gonna be there for Dad? Who's gonna help Betty with her Calculus homework? Maybe Ned, but who knows. I pull away and sigh again.

"I love you Dad," I say. He smiles lightly and kisses my forehead. "I have to go take care of something," I say. He nods as I grab a coat and keys.

"Be careful baby," he says. "Call me as soon as you get to," he pauses. "Where are you going?" He asks.

"Dad I have to," I stop. Where was I going? I needed an excuse. I couldn't tell him I had to go talk to Peter to quit being a superhero. "Get my nails done, for the dance tonight," I say quickly.

"Oh," he says. "We'll be safe honey. You need me to drive you?" He asks. I shake my head and wave goodbye.

"Peter, you busy?" I send to Peter. This connection has gotten a lot quieter. I don't hear all his thoughts anymore like I used to, which is probably good.

"No, not really," he sends back as I jump up onto a near by roof.

"Meet me on the roof," I send back. Hoping he knows what roof I mean. I don't get a response but sure enough when I jump up on the roof there he is. No spidey suit though. Just Peter.