Chapter Text
Peter opened his eyes to the harsh smell of antiseptic and the blinding fluorescent lights above him. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his vision and take in his surroundings. He realized he was in the medbay of the helicarrier, and after he realized that he was suddenly aware of how much every part of his body ached . Especially his head, which was absolutely screaming at how bright the lights were, and his entire arm, including his shoulder, was in a sling. It poked out from under a rather thick blanket that sat on top of Peter.
He groaned as he ran his hand through his hair, which was damp and gross with sweat, trying in vain to remember what had happened. His memory felt fuzzy, like a camera lens unable to quite focus.
Turning his head to the side slightly, he scanned the area. Nobody was around, which made Peter frown, borderlining on a pout. Where was everybody? Aunt May always sat with him when he was sick… And he always had his bear…
He wanted his bear.
Peter shook his head in an attempt to get rid of those thoughts, which only aggravated his headache and made him dizzy. He shouldn’t regress here, where Fury could be watching (that last training incident was embarrassing enough). If Fury saw him now, he would think Spider-Man’s a big baby who can’t take a hit. He could take a hit! He’d done so multiple times! It was just hard sometimes, y’know… Sometimes he wanted to be small and receive comfort and not pretend he’s invincible.
Sammy was really good at that, at making him feel safe and secure and not like he had to face the world alone. Because whenever he was in trouble with a scary villain or cried after tripping and scraping his knee on the sidewalk, Sammy was always the first one there to help and support him. Then the rest of his friends, who were never far, would huddle around, and it was so nice and warm and Peter had never felt so loved.
He’d found his group. His people. His friends. His team. His family.
After years of being the outcast, nerdy, secret superhero Peter Parker, he’d finally found the place where he belonged.
Peter loved his friends. If only they were here…
…
…
He also really wanted his bear.
…
Just then, the door to the medbay opened, revealing the head of a familiar person peeking through the doorway. Peter sat up slightly, and his face lit up once he saw who it was.
“Sammy!” His legs kicked a bit in excitement underneath the blanket.
At Peter’s exclamation, Nova’s face also lit up in a smile after a second of surprise at seeing Peter regressed. He came into the room, followed by the rest of the team.
“Hey, buddy, how’re you doin’?” Sam asked as he and the team approached Peter’s bedside.
Peter shrugged, good mood suddenly gone. He properly sat up in the bed, struggling a bit to coordinate with his tired body and push himself up with one arm. Sam lifted his hands up multiple times, like he was going to help, but dropped them when he saw that Peter didn’t need assistance.
“Hurts,” Peter said finally.
Luke chuckled, “I bet. You took quite a nasty beating there.”
“Wha’ happened? I don’ really remember well…” Peter asked.
“A villain flung you so hard into the wall you broke through it,” Luke replied.
Peter paused for a moment as the memory came back to him. They had been fighting a group of villains inside some building, and the leader grabbed him by his neck and threw him at the brick wall with such force he broke through it. He had to quickly shoot out a web to stick himself to the building and save himself from splatting on the pavement before he lost consciousness.
“It was actually pretty impressive.” Danny’s quiet voice broke Peter out of his thoughts. Ava smirked and playfully rolled her eyes at Danny’s comment before addressing Peter.
“Yeah, you dislocated and fractured your shoulder and got a concussion,” she said. “Along with the usual aches, pains, and bruises after a tough battle.”
Ava stepped forward and hesitantly placed a hand on Peter’s knee. She was a bit awkward, as she didn’t have the most experience with Peter while he was little. However, she was eager and willing to learn, wanting to get closer to her teammate.
“You doing okay, cub?”
Sam snickered, “ Cub ? Is that your new nickname for him?”
Ava’s face immediately turned bright red, and she glared at Sam. Her voice was near a growl. “What?”
Sam held his hands up with a grin. “Nothing, nothing. I didn’t know you were the cutesy nickname type.”
Ava’s nose scrunched up before she turned away from the other and crossed her arms. Her face was still red. “Just something I’ve been thinking about. It’s whatever.”
Sam, Danny, and Luke chuckled at her embarrassment, earning them another glare from Ava, but the glare had no real hostility behind it.
Peter grinned at Ava. “I like it. ‘S cute!” He mimed a paw with his good hand. “I’m a tiger. Rawr!”
Ava amusedly huffed at the other’s antics before ruffling his hair. “You’re a spider , you goofball.”
“Nuh-uh, I can be both! I’m a tiger spider!”
“Is that actually a thing?” Luke muttered to Danny, to which the other nodded.
At the same time, Sam muttered, “I have to think of a cool nickname for him, too…”
“Anyways,” Danny began. “We brought you a gift.”
Luke nodded, “Yeah. We thought you might like it so you wouldn’t have to be alone in here.”
“Even though you’re only staying in here for just another day or so, it’s always nice to have some comfort,” Ava said. “Since we certainly can’t stay with you.”
Peter pouted at the words, to which Ava ruffled his hair again and muttered, “ I know, I know…”
Sam, who Peter didn’t notice had run out of the room for a moment, held something up to Peter previously hidden behind his back. It was big and fluffy and had a bowtie.
It was his bear!
Peter gasped and his face broke out in a grin as Sam handed the bear to the other. He gave it the biggest and tightest hug he could manage with his one good arm.
“T’ank ‘ou, guys. ‘Ur my bestest friends ever!” Peter exclaimed.
“I thought Bear was your bestest friend ever,” Sam teased.
“He still is. ‘Ur my second bestest friends ever.”
“Second?!” Sam dramatically put a hand over his heart. “Peter, you wound me. I’m dying.”
He flopped to the floor, at which Peter giggled, “Noooooo!”
The other boy titled his head to the side and stuck his tongue out of his mouth with a bleeh .
“Fine, you can all be my first bestest friends ever.”
Sam harshly gasped before saying, “Oh thank you, you’ve brought me back to life!”
“Sam, get off the floor. It’s covered in germs,” Ava commanded with crossed arms. Sam playfully rolled his eyes but obeyed.
Just then, the team’s SHIELD communicators beeped (except Peter’s). They looked at it and frowned.
“Sorry, buddy, looks like we have to go,” Luke said.
Peter frowned, looking like a kicked puppy. “Okay… B-But, before you go… Can you give me a hug?”
The team smiled before wrapping Peter in a big, warm group hug. In the middle, Peter also hugged his bear, because Bear was also a valuable member of the team, which meant he too participated in group hugs!
He loved his bear. But he also loved his team.
Peter had never felt so loved.