Alone

Sixteen

The next day came too quick. I woke up early and with Nat's help, tried to walk. I could only get a few feet before collapsing.

I groaned and rolled over, breathing heavily. "Pete you have to give it time." I gritted my teeth in frustration and grabbed onto the wheelchair in front of me. I used it to help me up and to sit down. "I know! I'm just sick of being weak." Frustrated tears fell down my cheeks and I hurriedly wiped them away. Nat sighed and squatted down in front of the chair. "Did I tell you that time Clint lost his hearing aids?" I shook my head and she smiled softly. "He was freaking out and tearing the compound apart looking for them. Turns out he left them in the kitchen next to his coffee. He took them out because Steve and Tony were fighting. This was before they got married. He cried for a whole hour because he was sick of having to worry about not having them in or breaking them. And you know what I told him?" I shook my head again and her smile widened. "Hardships don't make you weak. They make you stronger, brighter. So you learn to deal with them, whether they're long term or not."

After an hour of getting ready for school, Tony deemed me able to go. He pushed me out to one of his cars and I pulled myself into the passenger seat. He folded up my wheelchair and put it in the back. He got in and pulled out of the garage, starting the drive to Midtown. "I informed your school of an accident and your inability to use your legs." I nodded, leaning my head on the window of the car. "I know you hate this, but you'll be okay in no time. Plus, Ned and that MJ chick will be excited to see you." I looked up at a building, my eyes catching a glimpse of a red and black clad man. Wade!
I miss him. He's been in and out of my head for quite some time.

Tony pulled up to the high school and everyone stopped to look at the car. "Steve will pick you up. Tonight, you and I will fix your suit...maybe put in more tech. Text me if you have anymore issues." I leaned in to give him a hug before hesitating. Tony smiled and pulled me into a tight hug. "I'll see you after school Underoos." I got out of the car, holding onto the car to stabilize myself. I got the wheelchair out of the back and once it's situated, I sat down and stretched out my legs. I waved at Tony through the window and he drove off. The kids in the school yard hesitated before going back to what they were doing.

I wheeled into the school and was tackled nearly to the floor. "Ned! He's in a wheelchair!" Ned pulled off of me and helped me back to a sitting and comfortable position. MJ rushed to my side and grabbed my backpack, swinging it over her shoulder. "What happened to you! SM was seen in Sokovia and you didn't answer your phone?" Ned fired questions at me and I sighed, wheeling forward. "I got kidnapped by a robot hellbent on destroying the Avengers. He broke my phone. Then I joined the Sokovia fight. I saved someone and took 15 bullets to my chest, stomach and legs. Several of those bullets severed my spinal cord and I'm temporarily paralyzed. I also died for a week." I wheeled around to face my two best friends. "How...How are you alive?" MJ breathed, her face twisted with concern. I shook my head, "Don't ask. That's a whole 'nother situation. Just know that I'm practically immortal."

I got through half the day just fine, MJ or Ned shadowing me and checking in with me. I got to the lunch room on my own. "Penis Parker!" I groaned and turned the chair to face my one and only bully. "What Flash?" He smiled wickedly, "Did someone fuck up your surgery?" I rolled my eyes and shuffled my legs. "No. I got shot a number of times. Some of the bullets severed my spinal cord." Flash froze, his eyes widening in shock. "How are you still alive?" I shrugged and turned to wheel away. "Don't know and don't care. But keep fucking with me, once I'm out of this chair, your ass is mine." Flash rolled his eyes and returned to grinning. "Alright Penis Parker. I look forward to it."

The school day ended and I headed out to the front of the school. I find Steve in his old pickup truck and smile. He gets out and helps me into the passenger seat, doing exactly what Tony did this morning, in regards to my wheelchair. He got back into the driver's seat and smiled. "How was school kid?" I shrugged and leaned into the old leather seats. "Okay, I'm just sick of not being able to walk." Steve drove off but he put his hand on my leg, patting it softly. "And you will be able to soon. Just give it some time." I sighed. I'm sick and tired of hearing people say that. The rest of the car ride was quiet.

I wheeled myself into the training room. "Friday lock the Training Room off please." I heard the doors click and I stopped moving the chair. I'm going to walk even if it's the last fucking thing I do. I pushed myself up out of the chair, wobbling slightly. I gritted my teeth and tried to take a step forward. I fell and landed on my knees. I groaned and rolled over on my back. "God DAMMIT!" I pulled at my hair. I huffed and rolled back onto my stomach. Using my arms, I pushed myself up into a push up position and then slowly got to my feet. Once I'm standing, I took a small baby step forward. I continued doing that until I was half way across the room. I cheered quietly, hoping to pick up my pace.

I graduated from baby steps to actual steps. "Peter, Mr. Stark is outside the Training Room." "Let him in Fri." The doors swung open and Tony ran in, looking worried. "Nat said you locked yourself in the training room and-" I shook my head, cutting him off. "I just didn't want to be told to wait anymore." Tony crossed his arms and I hesitantly walked across the room, wobbling slightly. "It's like learning to walk again."