The thing that wakes me the next day, unsurprisingly, is the sunlight filtering through the window. I slept better last night than I would have had Peter not been there: I know that for sure. I roll over to thank him for spending the night, but he isn't there. I assume that he had to go home to help May with something, and I hope that he'll text me if he has.

I swing my legs over the edge of my bed and stand up, scratching Saturn and Venus' heads. I walk into my wardrobe and pull some clothes out, chucking them on my bed as I get changed. I avoid looking at the mirror, as I don't want to see where the suit is attached to me. I might not be able to feel that it is there, but I don't want that constant reminder. It's too much for me right now. Once I'm satisfied with my outfit, I head towards the elevator and take it to our main floor for breakfast.

I'm not expecting anyone to be there, and what everyone was discussing in that meeting last night is itching to be told to me. To my surprise, I find Papa in the kitchen creating breakfast. I give him a tight hug, and it feels like forever since I've given him one - or Dad, for that matter. I turn around and spot Peter, and my face visibly brightens.

"Peter!" I say happily. "You didn't leave! I thought you had, when I woke up and you weren't there."

"Honestly, I tried to. I didn't want Mr. Stark to find me and think we were doing...you know."

"Peter, don't worry about that." I sit beside him, and Papa thrusts a plate of bacon, egg and sausage in front of me. "Papa knows I wouldn't do that. Everyone does. Not after Charlie." I stab one of the eggs with my fork, and the yolk oozes out.

"Who's Charlie?" I regret speaking up.

"Just my ex. It's fine. I can handle him."

"Why didn't you tell me about him?"

I shove a piece of sausage into my mouth. "It never came up. And I thought we could talk about it when we were further into our relationship." I look at Papa with a purposeful glare, and he takes the hint.

"Sorry to interrupt the lover's quarrel, but Blythe needs to learn how to use her suit," Papa says simply. I glare again - couldn't he have thought of a better excuse?

"But we both have school today," I argue. "Won't it take hours?"

"Already a step ahead of you, kiddo. I called the school and neither of you are attending. And don't worry Peter, I told May. I thought it would be good for you two to learn to fight together, since that's probably going to happen in the future."

"You know I don't want to fight," I say sternly.

"Even so, you need to learn to use it. You said it yourself: you don't know if this Dylan person is coming back. You want to be able to defend yourself, this is how you can do it."

"So why is Peter here?"

"I know he makes you feel safer, so if you can learn to fight together it should work well."

Peter and I glance at each other and blush slightly. As my cheeks burn, I shovel bacon into my mouth. I see him stuff his mouth with egg next to me.

I look up at Papa, swallowing my bacon. "Hey, what was that meeting about last night?"

He looks uncomfortable. "It doesn't concern you right now."

"Really? Cause it looked like it did. I'm eighteen, Papa. You can trust me with stuff. You need to trust me with stuff."

"You're not eighteen for a few weeks, Blythe, so stop using that excuse."

I glare and go back to my food. Why don't they treat me the age I am?

"Where's Dad?"

"Somewhere."

"Aunt Nat?"

"Another somewhere."

"Bucky?" Training. "Sam?" With Bucky. "Wanda?" In her room. "Clint?" With his family. "Bruce?" In the lab. I growl softly, only loud enough for Peter to pick up on it. There Papa goes again, not trusting me. I turn to Peter.

"Peter, you've been quiet. What do you think about this?"

He turns to look at me. "Well...I'm worried. I'm scared for you, for us, what's going to happen. I feel the same as when I was fighting Vulture, but this time it's you. And you have people surrounding you. I didn't have that. I didn't have anyone. But you have all of us. Mr Stark, Steve, Natasha, everyone. And you have me. None of us are going to leave you. So sure, I'm worried. But I'm gonna do everything in my power to protect you and help you through this. That's what I will always do: whether we're dating or not."

I blush, not realising how much he cares about me. We've only been together for a couple days, but it feels like it's been years. He makes my heart skip beats. But I don't want to get too close: he could still turn around and break my heart. Just like Charlie...

"Thanks, Peter. But I can handle myself. You know that. I've always been able to." I see his expression sadden a little. "But I'm thankful you're here for me. I need that in people. You know, someone who's gonna stick around no matter what shit life puts me through. People that are going to stick by me for me, and not trying to get through to my parents or any of the other Avengers. And I'm grateful that I have you."

I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and then look at my breakfast. Papa sighs, and I look up at him. He looks a little annoyed.

"We'll start after breakfast. And I don't want to hear any arguments from you, Blythe. You need to learn to use it even if you choose to never use it. People are going to come after you because of myself, Dad and the other Avengers. You need to be able to protect yourself."

"I don't want to," I grumble. Papa only hears the grumble, Peter hears the words.

"I think you should do it. Mr Stark is right: you need to be able to protect yourself, since fists aren't gonna get you out of everything. We're not always going to be there."

I look at him, slightly irritated but understanding where both of them are coming from.

"Fine," I agree reluctantly. "But after breakfast, like Papa said."