Black Knight | Peter Parker

01 | ❛What a Wonderful World❜

❛ Good shot ❜

There was a certain energy in the air - beautiful - energy in the air. Laughter filled a small wooden table and though it was physically dark outside there may as well have been a beam of light shining on the two girls and the man seated in the dining room.

As the laughter died down,  I stood and wandered over to the couch where my backpack was leaning against the couch cushions. "I've got something for you to sign, Daddy," I called out as I lifted a piece of paper from in between two folders and walked it over to my father with a pen. "And, uh, what is this exactly?" he wondered while scratching the back of his neck as he looked over the paper. "It's a permission slip," I shrugged before ruffling my giggling sister's hair and sitting back down. "For?"

"Engineering Regionals in two days," I replied with a grin. My younger sister smiled, "You're gonna' win, right? And get another trophy?" she hopefully questioned with a slight squeal leaving her mouth. "I hope so, Carie," I chuckled in return, feeling all hopeful at the thought of winning Regional's yet again and maybe even being good enough to move onto State for my district. "Hey, where's this at this year?" Dad asked as he signed the dotted line. "Queen's Convention Center," I replied before gesturing to a blueprint sitting on the coffee table in the living room. "Troy and I have a really good shot at moving to state this year."

"What did you make?" Carson asked me. "It's a device that produces such a high frequency that it can burst any material. Or it can reverse the effects and capture any frequency and turn the material it's on into a stronger material than its opposing frequency and practically make itself indestructible," I explained while watching Carson's smile fall and confusion flood her face. Dad laughed at his youngest girl and shook his head, "It's super strong, Carie."

"Oh!" Carson understood. "That's so cool! You're totally going to win!"

"We named it IPC. It means Interceptive Protective Control. Troy named it."

Carson giggled and Dad leaned over to cut more of her pork and she made a disgusted face at him. "I don't want anymore chicken, daddy." Dad sighed and leaned back after tapping his fork on her plate, "It's pork, baby. And you need to finish your dinner if you want that Rocky Road in the freezer," he reprimanded. Carson sulked in her seat before continuing to stuff pork in her mouth as she followed her one goal: to finish off that ice cream. Ha, not if I got there first.

The table grew quiet and before Dad could start another conversation, Carson spoke up with her mouth full of pork, not chicken. "Did you see President Trump's seminar with the North Korea man, daddy?"

Dad looked up and raised an eyebrow at me before I shrugged, and he carefully placed his fork down on his plate, "Where did you hear about that?" he wondered with a slight hint of amusement on his face. "On Fox, Daddy. I was watching a little before dinner."

Dad smirked, "Is that so?"

Carson nodded and took a large breath to prepare herself for her next sentence, "I need to study, Daddy! I'm going to be President one day!"

I laughed and leaned my chin on my hand to pay closer attention to my sister who was definitely not joking. "Really?"

With another large breath, Carson nodded yet again. "I'm going to be President of the 'Nited States, Paxxy! You and Troy and Daddy can come live in my white house, too!"

I joined in laughter with my father and stood up and pushed my chair in, then wandering over to my sister and wrapping my arms around her. Carson snuggled into my arms before licking my wrist with an evil grin on my face. I yelled out in disgust and my sister laughed while I started rubbing my arm against my younger sis's shirt to get rid of her germs. "Ugh! Carson Eliza Gray!"

"Ha-Ha!" Carie annoyed while sticking out her tongue. "Dad!" I complained while looking at my father. "Carson, apologize to your sister immediately," he scolded while pointing to me. The annoying six-year old stayed silent while I glared daggers into her soul and Dad stayed silent knowing that was the one thing that made his youngest cave.

"Fine! I'm sorry I licked you! Okay?"

I shrugged and threw my arms up, "That's all I wanted. Now I have to wash my arm, thanks to you."

I began walking to the hall bathroom when my father's call for me made me groan and turn around. "Aren't you forgetting something, Paxton Nicole?"

I reentered the room and glared at my sister once more, "I forgive you, Carie."

The little girl smiled triumphantly and stuffed another fork of pork into her mouth. "That's all I wanted."

What an ass. But it's her turn to feed the cat so I don't need to worry about her punishment.

•••

I sighed as I smelled a putrid scent from the trash in my hands and with a grimace, I kicked my  door shut with my foot and trekked across the hall to the trash chute that the four apartments on the floor shared with one another. However, as I approached I noticed someone leaned over with their head practically in the chute that most likely hasn't been cleaned in years - okay maybe year singular - but it was still gross.

"Is it clogged?" I asked, not wanting to have to walk down to the floor below to dump my trash. The person jerked up and hit their head on the chute, creating a magnifying sound of metal clanging. I cringed and took a step back, "Are you okay?"

As the person rubbed his head and groaned he finally turned around and I saw none other than the very Peter Parker standing before me. I threw my head back and mentally groaned at the realization that my classmate was seeing me in my sock monkey pajama bottoms and oversized Hello Kitty t-shirt. I saw him lightly chuckle and I scoffed, "Excuse me for trying to be nice," I scolded while placing my trash next to his foot and checking to see for myself if the chute was clogged. "So judgemental," I muttered after.

Peter's smile fell and he immediately began trying to correct his mistake. "I-I didn't... I mean that I - "

I grinned and glanced back at the boy before lightly shaking my head, "I'm kidding, Peter."

The teenager sighed in relief and I could literally see the anxiety leave his eyes. "I-I think I got it unclogged," he said while scratching the back of his head. "Someone stuffed a pizza box in there, I-I think."

I shrugged my shoulders, "It happens. I bet it was - "

"Myers."
"Myers."

Peter and I shared looks and burst into unanimous laughter at our shared thoughts about our least favorite neighbor upstairs and after it had slowly died down I pushed the trash bag into the chute and shook off my hands. "Ah, I better get back inside. Carson is waiting for me so she can watch the newst My Little Pony," I admitted, feeling no shame with my statement since my sister was a little kid and she loved us to watch it together as our show.

"Yeah, I have to go meet Ned for a last minute study session," Peter smiled before shoving his trash bag down the chute and then closing it shut. "See you tomorrow, Peter," I bode farewell as I walked back to my door while Peter walked to his. Peter nodded and before closing his door behind him he called my name and I turned to face him with my hand on the doorknob, "Congratulations on conference, you deserve it."

I smiled, "Thanks, Peter. It means a lot."