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Chapter 31- You saved me, Pete

Peter hated Malibu the moment he stepped into the freshly renovated house. Resting his backpack and suitcase in the hall, he gazed around to see a tech dream-house. There was much to love, especially for a nerd like Peter who gaped open- mouthed at anything that screamed technology and science. And this house was the exact representation of that, only, Peter didn't even smile when he looked around taking in the white, grey and black, the glass panels and marble floor, it just wasn't...

No, no, no. He shouldn't compare this place to the Tower. He was only staying here for only a part of the summer not for the rest of his life, so why should he compare it to his home? And anyway's Tony told him he'll love it. Might as well look like it.

"You like it?" came Tony's voice from the front door. Peter turned around and a smile emerged onto his face. He tried to look excited and thrilled just to ease Tony for once in his life. He grinned, trying to make it look as real as he could, but the slight feeling of unfamiliarity wormed it's way into his heart, and he just couldn't bring himself to keep on putting up the act. He turned around to escape Tony's eyes and pretended to admire everything around him.

"Awesome."

The place was with no soul, no air of familiarity, nothing that even mildly resembled the warmth and cosiness he felt at the Tower. How he always felt protected and safe whenever he entered the penthouse as he stepped out from the elevator, taking in the faint smell of everyone living there, Tony and his motor-oil and aftershave, Pepper and her perfumes, the sweat the team brought when they arrived from the gym, even the smell of those freshly baked biscuits that still lingered in Peter's memory as all those smells came flooding back in the very moment he needed them the most.

"I'll show you you room, and you can go and explore. Pepper's gonna cook lunch." Tony said, as he placed his arm around Peter and took him up the glass stairs.

It was too empty. Too lifeless. Too not-like-the-Tower. Tony left Peter in his "room" yet the moment Tony disappeared downstairs, Peter ran out and into the corridor. He made a quick scan of the entire building, soon figuring out there were three floors all together plus two underground floors, one with a swimming-pool the other with a gym and the labs.

He felt so unmotivated, so bored by the thought of exploring this lifeless place, he sat down against a wall, hugging his knees to his chest.

Natasha realised this was his position for when he felt unprotected and vulnerable. Peter felt so spoilt and horrid at the thought of feeling this way, and so ungrateful knowing how much it would hurt his Dad if he ever found out about what Peter felt about this place.

He sighed and rested his head against the plain, white wall. He thought about what brought him here in the first place. It had been an entire week since the 'incident', and after the short talk on the roof, Peter and Tony haven't spoken again. Peter started avoiding Tony, the belief that he was the reason of Tony's suffering slowly began carving itself deeper and deeper into his mind,  beginning to scare the relationship between them. Tony tried to reach out, but soon discovered that Peter wanted nothing to do with him, blaming his finals for the 'lack of time'.

The very image of Tony's pained eyes full of horror had become a certain reminder to Peter. Serving as a perfect example of how badly Peter hurt the people closest to him with his actions. How he was the reason for their suffering. He would never ever allow Tony's eyes to loose their brightness because of him. And the only way to that was keeping his distance.

He didn't realise when the his fingernails dug deeper into the flesh of his palm. Somehow that pain almost seemed satisfying, with the knowledge he deserved much more than a simple grounding. Peter was still surprised that his suit was still hanging in his wardrobe, having been more than sure that Tony would have taken it away. But he didn't even think of putting it on. He didn't deserve it anyway.