Chapter Text
Peter arrived at the bookstore an hour and half earlier than needed. He wanted to see the place before Harry met up with him. The entrance was an archway that led into a big bookstore with tables close to the walls. He made his way over to the only seat that was available, near the front area with a built-in diner. He hoped no one would bother him, he really only had the energy to be talkative, or at least write, to Harry.
He took his time taking a look around the book isles, a few looked interesting, but he knew he had no money to get any so he resorted to reading the first chapter of a book he found interesting before someone spoke to him, “Looks like you found your way here early.” He looked up to see Harry’s face, “I got out of family duties early so I decided to come down before you, but here we are.” He lightly chuckled.
Peter put the book back before showing Harry where his seat was and they got to work. After an hour of working diligently, their conversations drifted away from school and towards random things. Peter hadn’t hung out with anyone since May and Ben had died, to his memory at least. Spending time with Harry proved to make him happier, as little as it was to Harry, it was big for Peter. “Hey, would you like to come over to my place sometime?” Harry spoke after a brief silence. Nodding, Harry threw his arm around Peter, out of reaction Peter flinched, “Sorry.” Harry apologized guiltily.
Why did I flinch? Peter wondered to himself. He didn’t remember flinching before.
He brushed it off while Harry said his driver was there to pick him up. “I’ll see you tomorrow at school?” Peter agreed, waving goodbye while getting his lone bag and making his way to the group home. It was well past dinner time as his stomach growled in hunger. He wished he ate at school.
“You can’t just stalk Peter.” Wanda spoke to Clint, who was regretting the decision to erase Peter’s memories. “We will keep tabs, but no stalking. We wanted him to live a normal life.”
“I just wish we could,” He hesitated, looking for the words.
“Clint, I know what you mean. But that doesn’t help Peter in the long run. He’s a smart kid. If anything happens to him, we’ll know.” Clint nodded, but Wanda knew that didn’t ease his tension. “Are we sure it is wise to keep Bruce, Pepper, and Tony in the dark about the entire thing?” She turned to the others lounging on the couches.
Rhodey was the closest one to both Tony and Pepper out of everyone, “Trust me. Involving Tony would just cause him to embrace the egomaniac in him and probably adopt Peter. It’s best if they don’t know and we don’t interact with Peter in person.” He spoke solemnly.
Everyone agreed and got to work on Fury’s latest assignment.
Hydra.
Peter had attempted to sleep since curfew at the group home before nine, but still continued to roll in his uncomfortable bed. His mind was swarmed with images he could not get rid of. There was a girl with red hair that stayed at his bedside in a hospital room. A man on a bench who shared stories with him. Blurred images of a closet that sent shivers down Peter’s spine without knowing why. Another man and woman who loomed over him as he cowered in a corner.
What is happening to me? Peter thought to himself as he finally went into a restless sleep.
In the morning he was sent to the front office again. This time the Principal looked overjoyed to see Peter as he sat down. “Peter! How are you doing?” Peter gave no attempt to talk, like Principal Morita expected. He gave a thumbs-up and a small shrug. “Good. Good. It has come to my attention that you have been offered an internship to Stark Industries.” The man paused to see Peter’s reaction, there was barely any reaction, as Peter did not realize what it meant. “You will be meeting Tony Stark himself, he had already set an appointment up with Ms. Wood.” He smiled at Mr. Stark’s name, making Principal Morita feel like he won in his book. “That’s all I had to tell you. You are free to go Mr. Parker.” He said while opening the door and patting Peter on the back. Again, Peter slightly flinched at the contact, it did not go unnoticed by Morita as Peter walked away, towards the Library again.
The day had gone by faster than the last, especially when Harry had joined him for Lunch and Study Hall. They were finishing up their project by record speed when Harry spoke, “Would you want to come over tonight? I wanted to show you something I think you’d like.” Harry had known Peter was smart, probably even smarter than Tony Stark himself and loved all things biology. And he also knew his father and smartest employees were attempting to create a cure for diseases. A thumbs-up was eagerly placed on the table they sat at while they finished the last questions to their presentation. “Cool. Cool. I’ll pick you up from the bookstore at 4?” He asked noting how fast Peter was doing calculations in his head. Man, dad would love him. Peter nodded without even looking away from his computer. “Nice.”
Peter was at the bookstore by the time a fancy tinted window car pulled along the side of the street. He knew it was Harry by the enthusiastic hand waving from the backseat. He walked to the side of the car to get in but the driver already opened the door for him, “He says thanks.” Harry spoke for him, Peter was beginning to really enjoy Harry’s company, and his friendship.
The drive was relatively smooth and quiet, but to Peter it was all but uncomfortable and Harry felt the same but did not speak until they arrived at the building. It was Oscorp Industries.
They entered the lobby and were immediately checked into the system to go wherever Harry was taking Peter. “Come on, Peter!” He playfully shouted as he entered the elevator to the labs. Peter gave a small smirk as he swiftly entered the elevator, “I promise you’ll like this.” Harry’s voice was full of excitement, it made Peter wonder if he should be uneasy or excited himself.
The doors opened to a massive laboratory, desks and tables all clustered with different insects and rats, some hamsters, etc. Peter wondered what they were doing until Harry dragged him towards a section of hamsters before speaking, “Dr. Curtis Connors is in the middle of experimenting with replication of limbs and curing diseases like cancer!” Peter couldn’t believe that they were close with their research by what he glanced on their notes. He also was confused on why Harry showed him in the first place. He raised an eyebrow before Harry spoke, “I saw what you were reading online the other day on radiation and got the idea to show you this. Isn’t it cool?” He was beaming, waiting for Peter’s reaction. He must have given the right one because Harry just looked around the room in more excitement as he started showing him around the other collected areas.
After an hour of walking around the laboratory, Harry said they should leave before his father got back since he was not actually allowed to be up there. They made their exit quickly, but Peter did not know of the spider that crawled into his backpack.
Later that evening Peter started feeling sick.
Then came the fever and pain.
Next, the stinging sensations all around his body.
He eventually passed out on his bed at the group home, not knowing the looks everyone gave him.