Arachnid

                                    

                                          

The Avengers started hunting Spider-Man, and Peter was afraid. 
                          
Tony told him things he didn't want to know: how Fury was Furyous that the Avengers hadn't found him yet, how they had orders to bring him back in and questioned, and how they would use force if needed.
                          
Just thinking about it made Peter shudder.
                          
The worst part is, no one can predict crimes. And with the Avengers having him over as often as possible, it made it increasingly harder to sneak away every time there was a fire, a burglary, a kidnapping, etc. 
                          
In fact, Peter was afraid it was beginning to look suspicious when he left. If the Avengers found out, he wasn't sure what they'd do, but he knew he was frightened of the possible outcomes of the " Spidey Discovery " (Ned had named it). 
                          
On this particular Saturday, for once, Peter was not off at the lab with Bruce or Tony, wasn't taking bow lessons with Clint, and wasn't working in the gym with Steve (he always had to pretend he lifted less than he could, so going to the gym was pointless. He only went to hang out with Steve). 
                          
So when Peter, with his advanced hearing, could hear a man threatening to kill employees at a bank a few streets away if they didn't put the cash in the bag, he sprinted out of Aunt May's apartment. No biggie, Spidey thought.  
                          
He was oh so wrong.
                          
The moment Spiderman was spotted by SHIELD's cameras, the Avengers were notified. 
                          
When Peter Parker heard Iron-Man's jets roar behind him, Peter almost shit his spandex.
                          
He wouldn't confirm or deny what happened to his suit, but it needed to be washed immediately after the event. 
                          
As Peter swung through the air, Tony flew beside him. He wish he could tell Tony his secret, but alas, it would only cause problems.
                          
However, telling Tony did seem like a good option after Tony attempted to blast him with a repulsor ray or two. 
                          
Luckily, Peter's Spidey-Senses saved him every time, stopping Peter from plummeting into the traffic below. It would have probably scared some poor old lady, and that's just not very nice.
                          
-&-
                          
When Peter finally got to the bank, Peter realized he had to make a hard decision, because life hated him. 
                          
Would he stop the burglary, and risk the Avengers find out his identity? Or, would he leave the victims in the hands of a criminal with a gun?
                          
Choice made, Peter dived into the building, Iron Man trailing behind him. When Tony kept shooting rays at him while he was trying to stop the felon, (Why was he trying to shoot him when he was clearly saving lives? Priorities...) Peter webbed Tony's arms to the table, turning quickly to face the delinquent.
                          
" Swiggity swoogity, please don't try to shoot me. "
                          
The criminal shot at Peter. Peter, with his enhanced speed, dodged the bullet while simultaneously webbing him to the wall. " Come on man! That's the one thing I asked you not to do. What the hell. " 
                          
Seeing the police outside, Peter offered some final words to the convict. " Swiggity swail, good luck with bail! "
                          
Tony gasped, and Peter paled under the mask. As the police opened the bank doors to arrest the man and berate the vigilante, Spiderman left the scene, Tony still stuck to the table.
                          
Three days ago Peter had said the exact same thing when watching the news with Tony. 
                          
If Spiderman was Peter, Tony wasn't sure what he would do.
                          
If Tony found out Peter was Spiderman, Peter wasn't sure what he would do, either.
                          
-&-
                          
Stupid, stupid, stupid. 
                          
Stupid, stupid, stu-
                          
Peter was busy ramming his head against a wall in an alleyway. 
                          
Of course he had to slip up and say that stupid bail joke in front of Tony Stark, one of the Avengers focused on catching him. 
                          
Of fucking course he did. 
                          
Peter groaned. If he was questioned, what would his excuse be?  Would Tony still keep him as an intern? How bad did Peter screw up?
                          
He was gonna go behind bars. He hadn't even finished high school. What would Ned do in calculus without him? Who would MJ joke about, calling them a nerd? 
                          
Would Tony still keep him as an intern? Would he still talk to him? Did Tony even know? Oh my Go-
                          
Peter had long ago pulled up his mask, and was currently emptying anything he ever had in his stomach onto the alley's pavement. He was shaking, but it wasn't from the cold. 
                          
He slowly slid down against the wall, mentally and physically exhausted. Secrets always had a cost, didn't they? 
                          
He was just trying to help! He didn't want to be in prison. 
                          
Just the thought, along with his worries about Tony's deductions, helped to elevate his heart rate as he began to hyperventilate. He pulled on his mask hurriedly and attempting to get up again before keeling over. 
                          
Peter, close to passing out, didn't hear the sound of jets next to him. 
                          
" Hey, Spidey, " his hero, Tony Stark, the great Iron-Man, spoke to him.
                          
" Look, I know we're not on the best of terms, but I'm going to need you to breathe with me, okay? I can't have you passing out on me. "
                          
Peter, attempting regulate his breathing, looked up, facing the mask of Tony Stark. " B-but what about- " He coughed. His lungs couldn't handle speaking right now. 
                          
Possibly reading his mind (he didn't know all of Tony's powers), Tony answered his unfinished question. "We'll worry about Fury later. Right now, I need you to breathe with me. " 
                          
Peter was having trouble, barely holding onto consciousness. Tony sighed, stepping out of his suit, crouching next to Spiderman. Each passing secomd, more and more evidence just helped convince Tony that Spidey was Peter. 
                          
" Look, kid, " Tony spoke, " I know you know Fury wants you. I also hope you know I don't want him to have you. I think what you're doing is a great thing, " he said, staring directly through the mask and into Peter's eyes, " and I hope one day you'll trust me enough to tell me who you are so I can thank you in person. Until then, I've got to fire repulsor rays at you until the day one of the Avengers are tasked to drag you to Fury. Of course, you could always come with me, and I can identify you in the system.
                          
That's all Fury wants. To put a name to the hero. If it was anything else, I would never agree to follow you on missions like this. " 
                          
While Tony rambled, Peter's breathing had gone back to normal. 
                          
" I'll support you, kid. Message me if you need me. "
                          
They were a mess.