Chapter Text
His dad had only found out about Spider-man a couple of weeks before the Accords had ruined everything. Peter had just crawled in though his bedroom after patrol and there was Tony sat on his bed. The teen had been mortified to say the least and his dad had sure been surprised to see the homemade suit on his son. He had been proud though, that was clear in his expression, proud and worried. Both of them knew that Steve would be more worried than proud and that was why it was actually Tony that suggested that they keep the secret from him on the condition that Peter wore a suit of Tony's design. It was a win win for Peter but it meant that Steve had no idea that he was fighting his son in Berlin.
The Sokovia Accords had just messed everything up. Steve had left and it had broken Tony. Peter had been there for it all, his dad had tried to hide how much he was hurting but Peter was old enough, fifteen years, he wasn't stupid and he didn't miss anything. He had to sit there and watch as his dad broke apart slowly but surely.
Then he had fought his pa in Berlin. Tony had a certain time to bring Steve back and he had asked Peter to help- he knew that his dad would never have said yes if the circumstance wasn't so dire. Tony knew that it was him but Steve didn't. Peter was just trying to help both his parents but he couldn't help but feel like Tony's secret weapon.
It meant that Steve didn't know who he was as he dropped all those tonnes on Peter. Peter didn't tell him either as he fought, still couldn't bring himself to let the secret go. Instead he took out the anger he felt towards his pa, not pulling the punches because Steve had left and broken his dad's heart. That didn't mean that Peter wanted to fight him and every punch he swung, every web he shot hurt him. He didn't stop though because they needed to bring his pa in.
***
That was all the past now, the Avengers had sorted out the Accords, his dad and pa were back together- even if their relationship was now strained. All that was happening now through was that they were always away. Tony was away on business meetings for Stark Industries or off being Iron Man on government missions. Steve was always tucked away in some far corner of the Earth on some top secret Captain America job that he could never talk about, often accompanied by Nat or Clint.
With all of that, it meant that Peter was always home alone- the loneliness used to be too much for him and he used to really struggle, now he was more used to it. It wasn't nice and some days it was hard to return to the big, empty house but those days were less and less.
That morning he woke as he always did, yanked for a nightmare suddenly, panting and shaking, sitting straight up in bed. There was no noise from the rest of the house and why should their be, today marked one month, two weeks and three days since the last time that anyone else had been home. It happened sometimes that they were gone for long periods. Sometimes there would only be a couple of days between visits, sometimes a week... sometimes this. The best times were when there was a week where someone was their all the time. He missed those sorts of weeks.
Now though it was just Peter. That evening he knew that the cleaner lady Mildred would come. He was friends with Mildred, a woman in her early fifties with grey hair always tied up in a messy bun. She was sweet and kind and always smiling. She only came once a week but every time she did Peter would stay with her and help her with whatever she was doing. They would talk and laugh together, chat about the little things and about nothing at all. When she wasn't there he was just lonely.
He dragged himself out of bed then, running a hand through his wild, sleep-ruffled curls before pulling back the curtains and letting the morning sunlight spill into his room.
"Friday could you put some music on?" Peter asked the omnipresent A.I.
"Any preferences Peter?"
"Um no, just something from one of Dad's playlists," the teen replied after a moment.
Not a moment later Aerosmith blasted out over the speakers, the sound echoing throughout the mansion. Peter could hear Steven Tyler singing everywhere, his heightened hearing allowing him to hear the voice all the way down the halls and stairs. Much better than the silence.
After a quick shower, Peter pulled on some jeans and a t-shirt. His hoody was frayed slightly at the cuff but it was his favourite and it was clean so that went on too. Ned often asked why he wore such "ratty" clothes even though his parents were some of the richest and most influential people on the planet. Peter simply told him that the old clothes were worn in and more comfortable than new and expensive brands. The real truth was that when he wore the old, hole-riddled clothes it was easier for him to be invisible.
He left his room after grabbing his bag and ventured into the kitchen. It was spotless. There was not a thing out of place or a millimetre of dirt anywhere to be seen and that was because he had cleaned and cleaned last night after he had finished his homework and before he had gone to bed. He had cleaned purely because he was lonely and bored after finishing up with all else that he need to do.
Peter took a second then to consider what he wanted for breakfast before opting for toast. Good old toast with jam and so he popped the bread in the toaster and lent against the counter waiting. The teen pressed his forehead to the cool surface, feeling a headache already forming. He really hadn't slept well recently. God he wished there was someone here. Didn't even have to be one of his dads. Just someone.
Just at that moment Steven Tyler sang " dream until your dreams come true," the voice heard through out the whole oversized house. At least it was supportive.
As soon as his toast popped he decided that he couldn't be bothered to do anything else with it so just tore a chunk out with his teeth and ate it dry.
***
At school he was greeted by "you look like shit loser" from Michelle and "hey Peter are you okay?" from Ned. He couldn't help but laugh at MJ's attempt to cover up the fact that she cared. He told them both that he was fine and it wasn't really a lie, he was okay for him.
He walked to his locker with his two friends, trying not to show how nervous he was in the crowds. It was stupid really but ever since Toomes dropped that building on him he had been acutely aware of the space between him and anything else. He was Spider-man with claustrophobia. How dumb was that?
"So what are you doing tonight Peter?" Ned asked.
"Well I was going to go on patrol but we could all meet up to study for the Decathlon after. My place is free," Peter addressed the pair of them.
"How long has it been now since your place wasn't 'free' then Peter?" Michelle asked with a raised eyebrow leaning against the lockers with arms folded.
He looked at her and then turned away slightly, the blush that crept up his cheeks was there for one of two reasons. The first was embarrassment over how much the question hurt, the second was embarrassment over how beautiful he found Michelle. Stupid, stupid.
"Too long I guess," he said, closing his locker and pulling at the straps of his bag pack.
"Well if you two are free tomorrow night I can get you into Jordan's party," MJ offered.
"Sounds cool," Ned replied enthusiastically.
"Okay, what do you say Peter?" Michelle questioned.
"Um sure, why not," the teen responded.
"Right then see you later losers," the girl called back as she pushed herself away from the lockers and walked off to her first class.