Hollow

Best and Brightest's Darkest Day - Part 1

7 am is a very hard time to wake up at in the morning if you're a normal person. But for Peter, it was especially hard.

He sits in his bed after shutting off his alarm, curtains drawn and lights off, just trying to wipe the drowsiness from his eyes. After being kept up late by a bank robbery, the young hero barely got 4 hours of sleep in before having to wake up on this fine Monday morning. Groggily, he takes his steps towards the shower. With his advanced hearing, he is able to hear the low-volume alarm going off waking May, knowing fully well that she'll be ready before him and making breakfast since it was the most important meal of the day 'even for geniuses such as himself'.

Peter's Aunt is his only remaining family. His parents were tragically killed in a plane crash when he was just a young boy and his Uncle passed a few months ago. Actually, he didn't "pass". That would imply it was peaceful. Oh no. It was anything but. He was shot by someone robbing a convenience store, after stepping in to try and stop him. That was something that shook May and Peter to their core, knowing that something so gruesome and horrific happened in their small family. Worst of all, they never found the guy who did it. Peter had tried to get him, multiple times, but he would slip right through his fingers every time. Eventually, Peter stopped, and although it hurts him everyday knowing that his Uncle's killer is still out there somewhere, he let go of the darkness that loomed over his head, and the agony that was in his hollow heart. Instead, he was there for May when no one else could be, and they both dug each other out of the graves they were slowly being encased in with their grief. He still believes that justice will be brought one day, it just won't be by him, and he has accepted that, no matter how hard it was.

After a hot shower, hair and teeth brushing, and changing into his favourite sweater and jeans, he met up with his fully ready-for-the-day Aunt and a plate of waffles in the kitchen. It was about 7:30 and they had some time to kill before Peter had to catch the subway.

"Morning kiddo" she greeted upon seeing him enter the room. "How'd you sleep?"

"It was okay. Wish it could've been longer though," he responded, taking a bite out of one of his waffles.

She looks over at him and narrows her eyes. "What time did you get in?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh please Peter, I hear everything. What time did you get in?" She repeated after rolling her eyes.

Peter stayed silent for a moment before setting down his waffle and meeting her gaze. "2:30, maybe 3..."

"On a school night? You know the agreement we have mister, follow it or I'm taking it back."

"Yes May." Once May found out what Peter was up to, it took some time before they could come to an agreement. From now on he is allowed to go and patrol until 11 pm on school nights so that when he gets back he can still get a full 8 hours of sleep before his alarm goes off in the morning. Weekends he could stay out later as long as he kept May updated on where he was and what kind of things he was doing, though he usually left some details out if it was unsafe. He loved his Aunt and understood that she was just looking out for him and trying to keep him safe, but on the other hand, what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her.

"So then," Peter started, "what are your plans today?"

"Well, I have some laundry to catch up on and some groceries to get because my kid eats like he's constantly starving-"

"Hey! I can't help it if I have a fast metabolism."

"No, there's fast metabolism, and then there's you." She smirked at him, knowing that he gets bugged by the things he can't control.

Peter looks down and grumbles to himself. "Well this has been a great morning, but it's time for me to leave." He says as he finishes his waffles and grabs his backpack, heading to the door.

May stops him by grabbing his shoulder and pulling him in for a quick hug before he could make it out the door. After releasing him she asks, "Are you coming home right after school, or...?"

Expecting to finish her sentence, Peter says, "No, I'm actually gonna head to the Tower to get some hours in. Can't hurt right? A little extra work here and there."

"Okay, will you be home for dinner at least? I'll even make your favourite."

"You got yourself a deal. I'll keep you updated if anything changes. Bye May, love you."

"Have a good day Peter, love you too." May watches as her boy leaves the building, heading towards the subway platform.