Not so secret anymore (for may_parker)

[spider_m4n]

That's the thing with the Parker luck. One minute you are at the top of the world, Tony Stark offers you a place with the Avengers and hands you back your superhero suit. Everything feels great. Or close to great. But then, BAM! Exposed!

It's like the world turned into a Zack Snyder movie. Peter could pretty much see it all in slow motion. The longest of turns, his heart beating so hard he could have sworn it was about to tear apart his ribcage like that worm thing from Aliens. That's it. His life had turned into a merged version of two movies, maybe a sad family comedy too.

Because yes, he wasn't wrong. No, that was not May screaming because a cockroach sneaked into the bathroom again.

That was his aunt, who caught him, his secret identity totally exposed.

What. The. Fuck.

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[may_parker]

"Why couldn't you be playing dress up?" She shot back. "You are not, are you? You are..." She couldn't even say it. She knew something was up the last few months, but she never suspected this in her wildest dreams. She paused, took a deep breath, and held a hand up. "Okay, let's unpack this," she said. "Pete, no more bullshit, okay? Tell me what's going on, honey."

[spider_m4n]

This was it. He was exposed, completely exposed. And now it was too late. Too late to claim he was wearing a costume. It's not even close to Halloween! And where could he get something as expensive as this suit? It's not like there's even Spider-Man merch, like the tons of Captain America stuff and Iron Man goods available in the stores.

"Okay..." Peter sighed, only then daring to make a brief eye contact with his aunt.

"Okay, but first you gotta promise not to freak out?"

[may_parker]

"Me? Freak out?" He had her there, but she couldn't help worrying about her nephew. He was her only family! Her kid really. "Fine," she said, "I promise." She held her hand across her heart. "See? This is me not freaking out." She walked fully into the room finally and closer to Peter. "I love you," she added. "No matter what. You've been up to shit for months, but I love you."

[spider_m4n]

That's the thing about their little family. It's just the two of them now. And May? She had always been loving and protective, they have always been a team. They had even found a way to go on after what happened to Ben. Peter is sure that the only way they did manage to do it is because they had each other to rely on.

It wouldn't be a surprise if May was afraid of losing him. And being Spider-Man? Peter had put himself in dangerous situations more than once. Merely a couple of days ago his girlfriend's dad had tried to kill him...

"Okay." Now he stood, inches away from his aunt. In his suit. Expose. "I'm - I'm, well..." The corner of his lip twisted up in a nervous smile. "I am -- Well, I'm Spider-Man."

[may_parker]

Well, obviously. She was seeing it with her own eyes. Still, hearing it sent a new sense of surprise through May. Her little boy was Spider-Man. She warned him to stay away from danger and, meanwhile, he'd been fighting it. Under her nose. She believed in giving him freedom and he hadn't disappointed her yet, but this was a major development. "Okay," she replied. "We can handle this." They handled everything together; granted, she wanted to forbid him from ever stepping foot outside the apartment again, but she knew there was no way to manage that. He was a superhero whether she liked it or not. "How did this happen, Pete? When?" She held her arms out. "God, just give me a hug, kid." He could answer her questions after.

[spider_m4n]

Almost without thinking, Peter stepped forward to lean into his aunt's hug. Arms wrapped around her waits as he buried his face in her shoulder, in the hair flowing down it. It smells of that floral shampoo she liked so much and that sometimes he was forced to use whenever he ran out of his own. That silly little thought that sneaked his way into his head put a smile on his face just as Peter turned his head, resting his cheek on May's elbow.

"I got bit by this weird spider, it was radioactive or something, I suppose. Like, I didn't think a big deal of it but... Remember that weekend when I got super sick some months ago? That was it. It changed me."

[may_parker]

May squeezed him briefly before rubbing his back. The poor kid kept so much inside! "Pete, why did you..." She sighed. "I know you don't want to worry me, but it is my job, kiddo. We are in this together." She tilted his chin up so she could look at him. "I love you no matter what," she continued, "but you have to be honest with me from now on, okay?"

[spider_m4n]

"I know, I know," Peter muttered as he felt his aunt squeeze him gently, lovingly. The only mother's love he knew, the only one he remembered, came from May. He couldn't help the pang of guilt that made him feel.

"I just thought that if you knew... That you'd want to stop me from doing it."

[may_parker]

May sighed. He might have been right, but then again? How could she stop a superhero from being a superhero? "Maybe," she admitted. "Maybe if we weren't this far down the rabbit hole, Pete..." She stepped back and leaned against his bed. "I know I can't stop you now," she added. "But there has to be ground rules, you know. I have to know you are safe. Someone has to watch out for you..."

[spider_m4n]

"May, I promise I'm safe! I--"

Well, he wasn't exactly safe a couple of days ago, back when he had to sneak around while his ridiculously fast metabolism took care of the several bruises Mr. Toomes had left after they had that final battle at the Coney Island beach.

"I..."

He sighed, giving a look at the paper bag Mr. Stark had delivered, his suit inside it.

"Look, the Stark Insternship?" Oh, man, does he really wanna go there? He just promised his aunt there would be no more lying. But, Mr. Stark had lied to take him to Germany just for him to fight a Captain America that had betrayed the Avengers. Well, the half of the Avengers that were still by Iron Man's side.

"Mr. Stark -- The truth is, Mr. Stark is looking after me. After Spider-Man."

[may_parker]

Of course he was. May raised her eyebrows. "How well is he doing that?" She couldn't help the annoyance that tinged her voice. She wasn't annoyed with Peter, but she didn't entirely trust Stark.