BEEP>BEEP>BEEP. Peter sighed knowing that sound all too well now and knowing he had to leave soon or face the wrath that comes with being late. Saying his goodbyes to the decathlon team, Peter exited the school in a full run and prayed to gods that Aunt May wasn't home. Before unlocking the door, peter listened carefully, only to hear loud footsteps and clattering dishes. Unlocking the door Peter was met with the a loud scream.
"PETER" as May screamed his name Peter went over what he could have possibly done wrong this time," There was a dish in the sink when i got home, not to mention your 2 minutes late." Peter knew better then to speak. Silence was always better when she was like this. " Get the belt." May said smiling as Peter flinched at the mentions. Peter obeyed the command and handed May the belt, never making eye contact with the woman and pulling his shirt over his head. She hit his back hard nine times, three whips for each 'Offence' Peter had made. Every small scream or whimper was rewarded with an extra whip and a smile from May.
When Peter's punishment was complete, he was released the woman locked him in his room. Once Peter heard the front door slam closed, he picked himself off the floor and made it to the bathroom to clean off the fresh marks. At least with his advanced healing Peter knew they would soon close.
What Peter didn't expect was the consistent three honks he knew all too well. Happy was here to pick up Peter. "Shit" Peter said now remembering that today was Friday and he was going to spend the weekend with his mentor, Mr.Stark. Peter slipped on a thick hoodie, grabbed his backpack, and hoped the granola bar he had earlier today would be enough to heal the cuts. He slipped out his window and down the fire escape, making it look as if he had just casually walked out the building before approaching the car. "Hi Happy," Peter said greeting the man and continuing to babble about his week until the two reached the tower. Peter said his goodbyes and made it up the private elevator to Tony's private lab.
"Hey kiddo!" Tony said excited to start working with the young genius. "Hi Mr. Stark." Peter while tossing his backpack by his workstation and approaching the older man. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Tony." Peter didn't respond to the man, to busy looking over the work in front of the two. "I had a new idea for the replusers, want to help me out with it?" Tony questioned seeing the boys fascination with the blueprints. "I would love to Mr.S..Tony"
With Peter's help, the two made very impressive progress on the repluser upgrade. Peter's phone had started ringing a few hours after they started. Peter tensed at the sound, knowing the ringtone all too well. He made his way to the discarded bag, trying to think of a lie to tell his aunt about his disappearance. Why this weekend have to be the one she actually came home and checked if he was still locked in his room? Peter took a deep breath before answering the phone, greeted with the screams of an angry and drunk in May.
Tony noticed Peter stiffen at the sound, but shrugged it off as his sensitive hearing. He continue to work on the wiring, while peter dug his phone out from the bag. Wait Tony didn't expect was for screaming come through the phone loud enough to think they voice was in the room. His hand flinched at the sudden noise, which caused the wire tony was carefully connecting to another to be placed wrong. This lead to the repluser sending out a beam, hitting Peter in the back. This lead to Peter's phone being tossed to the ground and shattering apart, but at least the screeching stopped. Peter laid on the ground for a moment before he slowly got up, supporting himself with the work bench. Tony ran to the kid, sitting on him on the bench. When he pulled back his hand which was now covered in blood. Concerned the repulser hit harder than he thought, Tony pulled the back of his shirt up. Instead of seeing a burn he was sure was responsible for the blood he saw reopened lashes and scars littering the boys frame.
"Peter, What happened," Tony asked calmly, knowing if he let the anger come out the boy would be in worse shape than he already was. "Nothing" Peter said jumping away from the man. "Peter that's not nothing. You can trust me, Pete." Tony was hoping the boy he saw as a son would trust him. "She hurts me" Peter whispered just loud enough for Tony to hear. Tony urged the boy on," I was late and there was a dish in the sink. Three for each mistake, extras for noises." Tony hugged Peter, "We are going to figure this out kid. Did anything else happen." "She doesn't feed me often and locks me in my room,but i sneak out through the window and Ned gives me snacks sometimes so it's not too bad." Peter rambled not wanting to trouble the busy man. " With your metabolism that's not enough to eat and you didn't do anything to deserve to be punished like that. Let's get you some food and figure this out Petey." Tony replied knowing the humble kid. He vowed to take care of this kid, his kid.
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