I'm about halfway up the stairs when Peter catches up to me. We walk in silence the rest of the way up, the only communication between us being our hands interlocking. We arrive at my room, and I can see the stars sparkling against the dark sky. Saturn and Venus walk up to me, rub against my legs while purring and then walk off. I sit on my bed.

“I don’t feel like sleeping, even though it’s nighttime. There’s too much going on in my head.”

“Why don’t we go on a swing through the city?” Peter suggests.

I think about it for a few moments, then stand up. “Yeah, why not? Couldn’t hurt.” I let out a small squeal as Peter picks me up, holding me in his arms. “What are you doing?”

“I’m gonna take you out.”

“Shouldn’t you wear your suit? It might be nighttime, but people are probably gonna be suspicious if they see you swinging around as Peter rather than Spider-Man.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Be back in a minute.” He puts me back down and then disappears. While he’s gone, I open one of the windows. That way we can get out and get back in. I stare at the stars for a bit, not knowing how long it would take for Peter to get changed.

I turn when I hear him clear his throat, and it feels weird to see him like this. “Shall we go?” He asks awkwardly.

“Yes,” I answer. He picks me up again, and I wrap my legs around his waist. I figure this is the easiest way for him to carry me, and my arms clutch to his neck and shoulder. He jumps out of the open window, and immediately I feel safe. The wind flows through my hair, and Peter swings with constant motion. It’s almost calming.

We land on a building about ten minutes later, one that looks to be about six miles from the tower. I step down from my position against his body and stand flat footed on the roof. Peter pulls his mask off, revealing a messy mop of floppy hair. The two of us sit down, staring at the stars in silence.

“We haven’t had much of this yet, have we?” He asks, breaking the quiet that surrounds us.

“I don’t think we ever will, Peter.”

“Why not?”

“Well look at what’s happening right now. I have someone trying to kill me and maybe do unspeakable things to me before he does so. I have an Iron Man nanotech suit more advanced than Iron Man himself. I have a scream that exceeds what people can withstand. People’s ears rupture without protection at a rocket launch, Peter. And that’s only 180 decibels. Papa says my scream reached 330. And then you’re a superhero. And sooner or later, whether I like it or not, I’m gonna have to be one too. It’s inevitable now. I spent my whole life trying not to be my parents, and now I am. What a fuckup I turned out to be.”

“I don’t think you’re a fuckup. Blythe, you’re amazing. I’ve admired you for ages. Even though everyone tried to compare you to Mr Stark and Mr Rogers, I could never see it. You tried so hard not to be them, and I could see it. You weren’t them. And I understand what you’re going through: you’ve just had everything turned on its head. Everything you’d planned for your future, just...gone.”

“Charlie was wrong. I’m so much better without him. With you.”

“Who’s Charlie?”

“My ex, remember? He showed up in the gym after you left. Said he was there the whole time.”

“What did he do?”

“Kissed me. Didn’t kiss him back: just pretended to. Used the time to attach a shocker to his neck and shock him, forcing him to leave. Only I can take it off, meaning it’s still attached to him.”

“And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I was going to. But I was pissed at him, so I went back to the punching bag. The way he left me...Peter I was a mess. He broke my heart, and it took me a while to recover. So I went to find Papa and tell him, because he knew what happened when no one else did. And then the explosion happened.”

“So you didn’t kiss him?”

“No! Peter I would never. He kissed me, and I used the opportunity to get back at him, even in the tiniest way. If it makes you feel better, you can shock him right now.”

I stand up, holding the remote out to him. He stands up as well, taking the remote off me. He ups the intensity, then holds the shock button for a few seconds.

“You can keep it if you want. I don’t need it anymore.”

Peter turns and launches the remote far away. He stays turned for a few moments, obviously going to clear his head. I take this opportunity to get my own suit on, leaving my head exposed.

“Race you to the tower.” I take off, knowing he isn’t far behind. I leave my helmet off, taking in the feeling of the wind in my hair again. Of course, I win. I sneak into my room through the window, my suit disappearing as I do.

Peter gets in shortly after, then heads into the bathroom to take his suit off. I close the window, making sure it locks. Then I wait for him to get out. It must take less time to get out of the suit than into, because he’s done quicker than before. We both have smiles on our faces, but we’re tired. Collapsing on the bed, we fall asleep instantly.

--

Something’s wrong. I can feel it. I know I’ve slept, but for how long I don’t know. I don’t want to open my eyes, since there could be something I don’t want to see when I wake up. I feel weight on my legs, which could easily be my cats.

My eyes open wide when a hand clamps over my mouth. It’s Dylan. Somehow he got in. I stare up at him, trying not to show him my fear. My arms have been left free: I can try to use that to my advantage.

He leans down to whisper something in my ear. “Can you guess what I’m gonna do to you? Spider-Boy never has to find out.” My eyes widen in panic, and I no longer care if he sees my fear. My gauntlets cover my hands and I push against him, but he’s too strong. His free hand starts to trace its way down my torso towards somewhere I don’t want it to go.

Tears spring to my eyes as I silently beg him not to touch me. “Repuslors are firing up,” I hear F.R.I.D.A.Y. say inside my head, a fact that I would explore if I had time.

Blast him, blast him, blast him, please just blast him, repeats in my head, so many times that it becomes all I can hear. Finally they go off, and he flies off me and lands on the floor just before the window.

“Peter! Peter wake up!” I yell, shaking him violently. He turns over groggily, but Dylan has already begun to get up and walk towards the bed. I cover Peter’s ears and scream at the hulking man, sending him into a window. The window shatters, and I begin to run.

I try to make parts of my suit appear as I stumble towards the stairwell. It seems like I’m too stressed for that to happen, which makes sense. I run past an emergency alarm button but don’t stop to press it: Dylan will catch up if I do. I reach the stairwell right as my boots cover my feet, so I jet up and away from my floor.

Dylan bursts in and begins to jump from floor to floor. I look around and fly out of the closest door. Upon quick inspection, I can tell that it’s Bruce’s floor. I run to knock on his door, desperately yelling his name. When he doesn’t answer, I lean against the door.

Dylan is coming, and I am now powerless to stop him. He jumps out of the stairwell, a creepy smile on his face. The door behind me opens and I fall flat on my back, staring up at Bruce. He seems to realise what is happening and Hulks out, becoming the famous big green.

I scramble between his legs, trying to get behind him. A cold metal arm grabs my ankle and pulls me back, but I grab Hulk’s leg. The big green pushes Dylan hard, who lets go of my leg. I pull myself into the room, the door closing behind me. I stand up with the help of a chair and push the panic button as many times as I can.

I hyperventilate, watching the shadows fight. I try to calm myself down, but it doesn’t work. I black out.

--

The wind is in my hair. This can’t be Bruce’s room. I open my eyes to find myself above the receding city of New York, carried by Papa. “Where are we going?”

“A safe house. You’re not safe at the Tower.”

“How do you know Dylan isn’t going to see us and follow?”

“I have the invisibility cloak on. No one can see us.”

“Where’s Dad? Peter?”

“They’ll meet us there. Don’t worry.”

“Oh…OK.” With that, I fall back asleep.