Code Name: Spider

Chapter 15

Ryder_ _ _ 

       Right after Steve talks to me everyone in the room leaves except for Peter and I. I continue to hit the punching bag and Peter keeps lifting weights. 
        Should I say sorry to him first? Was I wrong? I get where he is coming from, I do. I mean, my entire life I have wanted a family, I have wanted stability and every family memory that is worth having. But, Tony doesn't know about me, or my mother. Finding these type of things out can really freak someone out. And I get that peter lost his parents, and that's where he is coming from, but he has his aunt and had his uncle. When my parents died I had no family. Maybe, I am supposed to tell Tony but then again what if he hates me. What is every bad ending that I have thought up in my head, comes true. What then? I ignore him? I stop coming to training? I stop dating Peter? When would it end? 
       Peter shows up in my vision and stands behind the punching bag holding it in place. I continue to punch but can't stop glancing at him. His stupid beautiful eyes distract me and I hold my hand wrong. I jam my thumb and pull back. I hiss out in pain. I take off my glove and look at my, bruising thumb. Peter comes to stand right in front of me and takes my hand, looking at my thumb. 
       "It's just jammed, it'll be fine." I take my hand back and fold my arms. We both stay quiet. "I hate this." I mumble. 
       "I'm sorry." We say at the same time. I shake my head. 

       "You were right." We both say again. Peter shakes his head before placing both of his hands over my mouth. "Look, I get it, your experience in life is different than mine. I never meant to upset you or be rude. I just want you to be happy." I smile, but he can't see that because his hands are over my mouth. I bring my hands up and take his away from my mouth. 

       "Thank you. But you were right too. All this time I have been so afraid and thrilled by new things. And you just wanted me to be happy but I was too scared to see that. Because of my situation I am terrified of rejection. You think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not. And if I tell Tony and he rejects me, I don't think I'd be able to handle it." He stops closer, the gap between us growing smaller by the second. He grabs my hands and holds them tenderly. 

       "I don't know even half of your past, and I know that. But if you will give me a chance I want to be there for you. I want you to never be rejected again. And if you do, one day, decide to tell Tony ... I will be there for you. Okay? I am not going to push you to tell him anymore but I just ask that you think about it." He lets go of my hands and puts his around my waist. "And also, I never want to fight again." 
       "Agreed. That was extremely painful. I don't think I could ever go without you for that long again." He smirks. 

       "It was less than 24 hours." I chuckle. I wind my arms around his neck. 
       "Still, it was pretty awful." I shrug. "And also I think the team might ship us." Peter laughs. 
       "I think so too. Tony and Clint both said that they knew something was wrong the moment they walked in here." 
       "Natasha and Steve both talked to me about it as well. One day, we are going to get married or something and they are going to explode." I chuckle. Luckily Peter doesn't read too much into the marriage comment and laughs with me. 
       "Well, one day, when that happens, I'll probably explode too." I nod. He said 'when'. Does he think about marrying me? I smile cheekily and lean forward kissing him. Almost immediately the passion of our fight last night and the kissing takes over. Peter pushes me against the wall and we are kissing when the door opens. I swear they always come in when we are busy. 

       "Geez, maybe we should have let them keep fighting." We break apart. I look over a the team. 

       "You can only blame yourselves." I say. "After all, you pushed us to stop fighting." I let go of Peter. 

       "Friday make a note, never ever under any circumstances get involved in their relationship ever again." Tony says walking over to us with the rest of the team. 
       "Yes sir." 
       "Haha. So funny." I say, trying to shake away the feelings of him being so close to me. He's my uncle and I'm his friend. That stings a little. "And as much fun as this all was, I am hungry and want a cheeseburger. Anyone in?" Peter nods looking around. Everyone nods. "Good because I'm paying." 

       While we are eating all I can do is think of my parents. How much they would have loved to have been here with us. Having fun and eating out. Sometimes it seems so unreal that they are gone. Like I could go home and they would be on the couch watching television. 

        "Kennedy?" Natasha ask, slapping me back to reality. "Are you awake?" 
       "No, yeah I'm here, what was the question?" I look around and Peter looks kind of sad. 

       "What about your parents where do they live?" Tony ask as I take a deep breath. 

       "Um, well, we used to live in California." I stop talking before I give too much back story. 
       "And now? Do you live here with your parents or where are they?" Natasha prods. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but I was hoping to avoid it just a little while longer. 
       "I like to think that they are somewhere nice." Everyone looks confused. "They died when I was eight, I've been a foster child for the last ten years." I look at Peter beside me as he rubs my back. 

        "I'm sorry, I did-"I put my hand up and stop Natasha. 
        "It's okay, really. It's not your fault that you didn't know. It really isn't that big of a deal." A waitress comes over with several plates of food and sets them down. "Thank you." Everyone is still silent. 
       "This might get me into trouble but, how did they die? When?" Natasha asks.
       "No you're fine. Um, like I said, 10 years ago. They were coming home after they went to see a movie or something. A drunk semi driver wasn't paying attention and veered into the other lane. My Dad didn't have time to react and the man hit them head on. They were DOA. They never felt any pain." Natasha nods. 
       "And you didn't have any family to stay with?" Steve asks. 
       "No, it was just me and my parents. My Mom's parents died when she was 11. My grandmother was adopted. I don't know who my grandfather is. And my Dad's family disowned him when my Mom got pregnant with me. So I'm basically all the family I have. Biologically speaking. But, now I've got Peter." I say happily. 
       "And us." Tony says. I smile at everyone as they nod. We all start to eat and a lighter conversation starts. Your right Tony, you are my family, more than you will ever know.