For Verity

[close_to_the_ground]

Man, Peter is gonna get so grounded.

The question is what he's gonna get grounded for. He and Mr. Stark have never really talked about what the rules are when friends come over. It's not an issue yet, since he doesn't actually live at Panoptes. And he's not supposed to tell people about Spider-Man, kind of, but Mr. Stark said he could tell people he trusts and Verity works for Panoptes so Mr. Stark must trust her.

He waits to get a text from Verity and takes the private elevator down to the lobby, hoping Mr. Stark actually works late like he's supposed to.

He really, really likes Verity. He wishes he'd had a sister like her and he feels pretty good about her not being freaked out about the Spider-Man but it's never not a weird thing to have to tell someone.

Okay, deep breath.

Comments

[close_to_the_ground]

"No, no no hell no," he says, dropping from the wall and skidding over on his bare feet.

"Not an alien. Got bit by a genetically fucked up spider. So. I guess I got some spider abilities and some that are just weird. Is it, is it too weird? Do you need to go?"

Shit. It really is so weird.

[notaskingpermission]

Verity really assumed Peter was about to say something like, I am Spider-Man in a dramatic voice like in the movies. (The first ones. Or were those the second ones? She thinks there's been a lot.) But he doesn't, he says spider abilities and she can't help letting out a small, surprised laugh.

"Spider abilities? What does that mean? Can you shoot webs out of your butt?" she teases.

"No, I don't have to go. I mean, if you shoot a web out your butt at me I might, but..."

[close_to_the_ground]

"Yeah, yeah I shoot webs out of my butt," Peter sasses, walking over to the water and sticking his foot in to check the temperature.

"I designed these web shooters so I can swing around, though. Maybe I can take you sometime. I can lift almost anything, though. Like, a lot. And do flips and stuff. And all my senses are crazy."