Alone

One

"May, I'm home!" I didn't hear an answer back and I pulled off my mask in confusion. She was here when I left for patrol. I heard a creak in the kitchen and the hairs on my neck stood up. I pulled my mask back on my face and quietly left my room, heading towards the living room and kitchen. I peered around the corner to see what looked like 2 men, all clad in black and conversing quietly. "Karen." I hissed quietly, surveying the scene. "Yes Peter?" "Search for life force in the apartment." I hoped these men hadn't messed with May, I don't know what I'd do. "3, 2 in the kitchen, 1 in the bedroom next to your's." I nodded and quickly flicked my wrists, throwing webs at both men. They began to yell out and I used that opportunity to web the freezer door into their heads, effectively knocking them out. Once they were unconscious on the floor, I cocooned them in webs and bolted to May's room. I found her on her bed, a bullet wound in her stomach. "Peter?" I sobbed, pulling off my mask. I ran to her side, webbing the wound to stop the bleeding. "We'll get help just stay with me." She smiled, her teeth red with blood. "I love you, remember that." She lifted her hand and touched my face. "I love you too, please just stay with me." Her eyes closed and her hand dropped from my face. "No! NO NO NO! MAY!" I sobbed into her chest, my heart shattering to pieces.

I packed a spare change of clothes in a bag and ran out of the apartment, swinging until I got to one place I know I'd be safe, the Avengers compound. I kept my mask on, the tears still falling from my face. I stepped into the lobby, immediately greeted by Jarvis. "Good evening Mr. Parker, should I alert Mr. Stark and Mr. Rogers of your arrival?" "Yes." I stepped into the elevator and let Jarvis lead me up to the penthouse. Once the elevator stopped, I got out of it, seeing Captain with his arms crossed in the kitchen. Tony next to him and Natasha in the living room. Nat is the first to notice me. "Peter? What happened? Why are you covered in blood?" That brought the attention to Tony and Cap. I pulled off my mask and hung my head. New tears fell from my eyes. "She's gone, May's gone. I...I couldn't save her." My world fell apart again and I fell to my knees, sobs wracking my body. "Jarvis call for an emergency meeting, Peter tell me what happened." Tony bent down in front of me. "Men broke in, shot her."

I woke up with a start, the night burned into my head. The nightmare ended like it always did, May's blood on my hands. Two months ago, I lost the only person in my family left. I didn't save her. Two months ago, I moved into the Avengers compound. "Peter?" The door opened slightly and Natasha stuck her head in. She and I got close in the last few months. "Yeah?" She opened the door fully and stepped in, she brought Clint. "Another bad dream?" I sniffled and leaned on the wall my bed is pushed up against. The two spies sat on my bed and Natasha ran her hands through my hair. "I don't know what to do." I admitted, my heart laid out for everyone to see. "You continue pushing forward, that's really the only thing you can do. May would've wanted you to keep going. Fighting for people who can't fight for themselves." Nat whispered. I hadn't been out on patrol or even on missions since her death. It's just too painful. "I'm afraid." Nat moved to sit in front of me, my heightened eyesight seeing her clearly in the dark. "We all are Pete. We've all lost someone or something. Remember when Tony lost Pepper? The city fell into shambles until Loki's first appearance, we've never seen him fight harder. Well except when he found you. We all thought he was crazy adding a 16 year old kid to the team, but he fought for it. He fought so hard for a kid he barely knew and we relented."

The two stayed with me until I fell back asleep. No more nightmares plagued my dreams.

I woke up again, this time to my phone buzzing on my desk. I leaned over, grabbing my web shooter off the floor and webbing my phone into my hands. I slid up on the answer call icon and pressed it to my ear. "What Ned?" "Dude you're 20 minutes late to school." I blinked, remembering that it's summer. "Ned school isn't for another 2 months and there is no Decathlon practice for another 3 months. What's up?" I sat up, my head spinning for a moment. "Can we hang out? I haven't seen you since...yeah." I bit my lip and looked at the clock. "Sure, come to the compound though, I want some help on fixing up my suit." I heard him cheer before he said a quick bye. I tossed my phone on the bed and started to get ready. "Jarvis lights please." The blinds opened and I smiled. "Should I alert Mr. Stark of Mr. Leeds incoming arrival?" "Yes thank you." Ned has been here 4 times, those were before the accident.

I locked myself in the bathroom, bringing my clothes with me. I faced the mirror, my shirt still bunched in my hands. May saved up for months to get me top surgery and T dosages. With my monthly allowances from Tony, I can still afford T. My fingers traced the barely noticeable scars from the surgery. They healed rather quickly, much to my doctor's surprise. Speaking of T, I need to do this month's shot. "Mr. Parker, Mr. Leeds has arrived." "Thank you Jarvis, tell him I'll be down in 5 minutes. And call for Natasha please." I unlocked the door and sat on the counter. Nat is the only ones that knows my secret. I made her promise to not tell anyone else.

"Pete?" Nat opened the door and smiled at me softly. "Need help with the shot?" I nodded sheepishly and I handed her the already prepped needle. She pulled up the left side of my boxers and rubbed a spot with an alcohol wipe. "I thought about what you said last night." "Yeah? What are you going to do?" She slid the needle into my leg, slowly pushing down the injector. "First I have to clean the suit. I'm going to add in a few features I've been wanting to put in before May passed." She pulled the needle out of my leg and put a bandaid over the spot. "All done, get dressed and I'll have Clint make waffles for you and Ned." She left the bathroom and I discarded the needle in a small medical box I keep hidden in the drawer. I pulled pants over my boxers and slid a long sleeve shirt over my head. I grabbed the suit from the closet, my fingers running over May's dried blood. I miss her so much.

I reached the lounge and kitchen, the smell of waffles wafting into my face. Ned looked up from his spot on his couch and grinned. "Pete!" He stood up and pulled me into a tight hug. "Dude, MJ and I were so worried. We heard about what happened and well you know." "Yeah, I'm sorry. I've hardly done anything." He released me and grabbed a part of my suit. "Is this...?" I nodded, my eyes glazing over with tears. "I...I haven't put it on since that night. I wouldn't let anyone touch it." I wiped my eyes and Ned released the bunched fabric. "Let's eat and fix up this thing. MJ is insisting on seeing you, so I suggest you call her later."