Wings || Peter Parker

33: Apartment

I exited the park and began to retrace my steps to get back to the building, passing multiple people along the way. Everyone stared, but I ignored them and walked past. 

I stood by the gates, taking a deep breath before walking in. I tried to avoid any windows, but it didn't work well. I don't think anyone saw me, but it would be bad if someone did.

I found a sunny corner to sit in, the angle of the sun placed just enough so my wings were in the sun, but my face was in the shade. I leaned my head back against the brick wall, closing my eyes and allowing myself to enjoy the sunlight.

Soon enough, the bell rang and I could hear the chatter from outside. A single door quietly creaked open, and a brown-haired boy stepped out. He looked around the lawn, covering his eyes from the sun. When he saw me, he waved and ran up to me.

"Hey." He smiled. 

"Hi."

"Okay, we've got to go to my alley real quick so I can change, and then we can swing to my apartment. Er, fly." He pulled his backpack straps as he spoke.

"Okay. Thank you."

"Yeah. Mr. Stark is going to come looking for me once he realizes you're gone though."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he'll come right to my apartment soon." Peter continued. "He already texted me, like seven times."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"It was a stupid thing to do, run away. And now you're going to get in trouble." I glanced at my feet as we walked around the side of the school.

"Yeah, you shouldn't have run away, but you did. Now I need to help you until you're ready to go back. I don't want you to be living on the streets." Peter replied. "I'll help the best I can, but you need to promise you'll go back soon."

"Yeah."

"And you can't just say you'll go back and never go back, Max. This is a temporary situation. Mr. Stark definitely snaps sometimes, but you can't run every time he does. You need to genuinely promise you'll go back soon."

"Yes," I replied. "I promise. I just needed to get out in the real world for a bit."

"Hold that thought," Peter said. We were in an alley, and Peter was stopped next to a dumpster. He dropped his backpack onto the ground and yanked his spider suit out. I quickly turned around.

"Do you not change with privacy?" I asked.

"No, it's kind of weird to change into a superhero outfit in the middle of a public bathroom, right?" He stumbled with something.

"I guess." I opened my wings slightly, still facing the road, blocking anyone from seeing behind me.

"Oh, thanks." He chuckled. 

"You know people can see you."

"I really hope they don't, and even if they did they don't know me."

"What if they do?"

"I don't want to think about that." Peter zipped his backpack shut. "Okay, done." I turned back around just as he pulled his mask over his head.

"Alright."

"Umm, if you want to just climb the fire escape to get up high you could," Peter said. "I don't live far, but it's more than a couple blocks away."

"Can I get up in the air in a different way?"

"I mean, I guess so." He replied. "I don't really see any other way you would-"

I immediately ran back to the street, searching for some kind of truck. It was the easiest way to get up, and I didn't have to run or climb a ton of stairs.