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May yawned widely as she jammed her keys in the rusted deadbolt and turned the lock until it clicked. She’d just gotten home from a long shift at the hospital. She was more than ready to go to sleep and stay there for the next six to eight hours. It had been a hectic night. Then again, wasn’t it always? There never seemed to be enough experienced nurses on staff. To a great degree during the summer when everyone was taking turns going on vacation. She was counting down to her own five consecutive days off, even if she wasn’t planning on going anywhere. She yawned as she eagerly pushed through the door. Maybe she’d take Peter to Coney Island.
Tiredly, she kicked her battered shoes off at the doorway and dropped her bags onto an adjacent table. The apartment was quiet. It typically was when she arrived home. Like most kids his age, Peter tended to stay up late and sleep the mornings away. Although the way he spent his evening was miles away from typical teenage activities. She swayed her head as she wandered into the tiny kitchen to collect a glass of cool water. Tony Stark hadn’t called or texted- because thanks to her nephew’s unique physiology, she was on a first name basis with Tony Freaking Stark. It was wild, really. She huffed a laugh and turned her thoughts back to Peter. Having no messages was a good thing. It meant there was nothing to worry about. Peter was fine, probably sound asleep in his bed. She swallowed one last mouthful of water and set her glass aside. It was time for her to get into bed as well.
As she walked down the short hallway to reach her bedroom, she noticed Peter’s door was ajar. She peeked inside, just enough to see the decorative lamp was on in the corner. “Peter?” She gently tapped a knuckle against the wooden frame. “Are you awake?”
“Hmm?” Peter questioned. However a split second later the original prompt appeared to click. “Oh. Yeah. I woke up early and decided to get this stupid summer reading assignment over with. I only have a few chapters left to go.”
May hummed in acknowledgment and crossed the threshold. Her eyes surveyed the room. The bed was vacant. As were the desk chair and the beanbag by the window. Confused, she looked back towards the door. That’s when she saw it, a noiseless movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned around to properly investigate and was met with Peter’s upside down face, mere inches from her own. She flinched and shouted, causing Peter to do the same.
The startled reaction swiftly turned into stunned silence. Peter recovered first, flipping- literally flipping onto the carpeted floor. His hands flew up in surrender, but there was a wry grin creeping across his face. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”
“You should be!” May snapped, her hand still clutching her rapidly rising and falling chest. It felt like her heart was going to beat right out of her ribs. “What in the world were you doing on the ceiling?”
“Reading!” Peter leaned down to pick up the worn-out book he’d dropped. ‘Charles Dickens, Great Expectations’ He swished it back and forth in front of her face. “I told you I was reading!”
Hysterically, May waved a hand above her head. “On the ceiling?”
Peter gently flung the book onto his bed and laughed. “I like reading on the ceiling!”
“You like reading on the ceiling,” May echoed. She closed her eyes and reached up to massage her temples. With her heart rate settled, exhaustion was starting to creep back in. An exasperated frown crossed her face. “Well, you know what I like?” she asked but left no room for a reply. “I like my sanity!”
Peter finally had the decency to start looking a bit guilty. His grin withered and his arms automatically folded across his chest. “I said I was sorry.”
Then, all of a sudden, May was feeling somewhat guilty herself. She sighed and ran a hand over the back of her neck and shoulder. She was tired, both physically and mentally. Her goal hadn’t been to spur an argument. Petty or otherwise. “It’s fine, Peter. I just- wasn't expecting you to be- up there. Maybe a little warning next time, huh?”
“Yeah. yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Warning.” Peter vigorously bobbed his head. “I can do that.”
Smiling gently, May leaned forward and kissed Peter’s forehead. “Good.” She took a few steps back, exiting into the hallway. “I have another shift tomorrow night. I’m going to sleep.” As she walked away, she grinned over her shoulder. “Make sure you eat a vegetable today, okay?”
“Sure, Aunt May. I’ll put tomato sauce on some pasta.” He grinned brightly- innocently. “Night, love you.”
“You too, Sweetie. If I don’t see you this evening, I’ll see you in the morning.” She paused to narrow her eyes. “With both of your feet on the ground, I hope.”
Peter laughed and held up both thumbs. “I’ll do my best!”
As May entered her own bedroom, she smiled gently and shook her head. She regularly conversed with Tony Stark and her nephew liked to read on the ceiling. That’s what her life had come to be. It really was wild.