Peter Parker's Arc

Chapter 2 of 7

Peter went to Avengers Tower to ask for a chance. Tony met him in the workshop, arms crossed, a wrench forgotten on the bench. "She woke up shaking last night," Tony said. "Some man handed her a toy dragon, and now she can't sleep." He stepped between Peter and the elevator. "You want near her again? No. Poking her memory could tear something loose we can't fix. She's safe. Keep it that way." "I only want to talk to her," Peter said. "You already tried talking." Tony's voice stayed flat. "I decide who sees my daughter. Right now that's not you." He turned back to the bench. The conversation was over. Peter left with nothing. Tony guarded every door. There was no plan that got past him. So Peter did the only thing that quieted his head. He changed into the suit and went out over the rooftops. He swung until his arms burned and his thoughts went blank. He wasn't looking for anyone. He just needed to move. A figure landed on the ledge across from him. Black scaled armor, a silver snake curling up the chest, blank white lenses. Viper. He knew her well. They had patrolled these rooftops together for months, chasing car thieves, trading jokes at three in the morning. She had no idea that under her mask she was Calliope Stark, and no idea who he was. "Long night?" she asked. She dropped beside him, easy, familiar. "You swing like you're mad at the buildings." Peter laughed despite himself. "Rough day." "Same." She sat, legs over the edge. "I keep getting this feeling I forgot something important. Then it slips away." She tilted her head at him. "You ever feel like your own head is hiding stuff from you?" His chest tightened. This was her, out here, with no locked door and no father standing guard. Tony couldn't reach this rooftop. Peter had found a way in that Tony never controlled. "Yeah," he said carefully. "Sometimes the thing you forgot is still trying to reach you." Viper went still. "That's exactly it." She pulled off one glove and rubbed her thumb over her palm, like she was holding something small. "There's this little metal dragon at my place. I don't know where it came from. But I panic if I can't find it." Peter's heart slammed. She was telling him. Not the shaken girl from the coffee shop. This version trusted him. "Keep it close," he said. "It matters." A siren rose below. Viper stood and stretched. "Same rooftop tomorrow?" "I'll be here." She dove off the ledge and swung into the dark. Peter stayed a long moment. Tony had shut every door. But Tony didn't know about this one. Callie had opened it herself, mask to mask, and she wanted to see him again. He had found his way back to her. Now he carried a secret that could destroy the trust he'd just built.