Chapter 38: Scorched Aftermath I

All he could see around him was darkness, it felt as if he had been floating there for ages.

He was so thirsty.

When was the last time he drank some water?

Also, where even was he?

Alright, let's try to backtrack a bit.

There was the field trip, then the heist that he and his class had to stop which then lead to him going back into the museum to save that one girl from that southern dude and then Endeavor sh-

Oh, right.

Endeavor.

Wait, was he dead?

No, he couldn't be dead! Aizawa showed up and saved him last minute! He did all that protective teacher stuff then carried him to… somewhere he didn't really remember.

God, did his everything hurt right now.

Pretty sure that was a sign he wasn't dead, given how he could actually feel things.

Kinda crazy to think he was still kicking after a 1-1 fight with the number 2 hero though, although saying he was still kicking would be an exaggeration.

Man, for all he knew Aizawa showing up was some sort of hallucination caused by his dehydration.

Oh, that would suck.

Eh, might as well wake up and find out.

If he was dead, he swears he's gonna haunt the hell out of Aizawa.

...

From the darkness he was in, the world changed into one of blinding light as Peter sat up in the bed he was in while coughing.

Almost immediately, a glass of water was present to him, making the boy snatch it from whoever was holding it and drink it all in one guy.

So much better.

Peter felt someone grab the now-empty glass in his hand, with Peter letting himself fall back down onto the bed.

He let out a few tired breaths, thanking whatever deity there was above that he actually got something to drink before he looked to the side and at whatever was next to him.

A small smile graced his lips.

"Hey, scarf man."

Aizawa was sitting on a chair next to his bed, glass in hand and looking at him lazily.

"Glad you're awake, kid." The man told him, getting up and putting the glass on a nearby table before sitting back down and lacing his hands together. "How are you feeling? You weren't expected to wake up for about a few more hours."

"Oh, that? I heal kinda fast, but I'm feeling really tired right now. Also, where am I?"

Aizawa raised an eyebrow at him as if it were obvious.

"A hospital? Where else do you think you're at?"

Wait.

Hospital?

Crap.

Peter shot up in his bed in a sudden panic, Aizawa rising from his chair and pushing him back down.

"You put me in a hospital?! I can't afford that. man! Dude, I would've healed just fine overnight! How am I supposed to pay for this stuff?!"

Hearing this, Aizawa sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration before letting go of his student.

"Parker, you're in Japan, as in you have free health care and don't need to pay for hospital bills."

...

Oh, yeah!

Man, he forgot about that stuff!

Sure came in handy!

"Oh, right! Yeah, I uh, knew that! Of course, I did!" Peter chuckled awkwardly, falling back letting his head hit the soft pillows.

He raised his arms in front of his face, a few spots were covered in bandages that he guessed were spread all over his body.

Since, you know, Endeavor and all.

Next time he swings by the support studio he'd have to make his suit more fireproof.

Like, a lot more fireproof.

"So… mind breaking down all the stuff that happened while I was out? After the part where I beat Endeavor?"

"You almost got killed by Endeavor."

"Hey, I got a bunch of hits in!"

Which was true, Peter absolutely had that guy on the ropes.

Just don't ask anyone that.

Aizawa sighed, sitting back down and running a hand through his hair.

"After your little fight that happened nearly 3 hours ago, you were treated for several burns ranging from 2nd to 3rd degree, major dehydration, along with a decent amount of fractures all over your body."

Eh, he's been through worse.

"The doctors said that few of those burns will undoubtedly scar, but are in places where you can easily hide them with clothing so you don't need to worry about that. Aside from that, you're gonna be fine physically."

Man, more scars?

Just what he needed.

He has a few burn scars, all around his lower back, guess adding a few more wouldn't hurt.

At least he can hide them.

"Parker." The man's stoic voice caught his attention, making him look up from his bandaged arms. "Are you gonna be alright?"

Peter only raised an eyebrow, running a hand through his hair subconsciously.

"I mean, yeah? You said I'll heal up fine aside from a few more scars, why do you ask?"

Just as he said that, Peter realized something.

Aizawa was talking about being fine on a physical level, wasn't he?

"You know what I mean, Parker." Aizawa leaned forward in his chair, Peter barely noticed how his eyes softened slightly.

"I… think I will be, you know? Like, of course I was scared, I was terrified! Being some 1st year and having the number 2 hero kill you is… messed up, really messed up but I'll be fine."

The teen exhaled through his nose, sitting up on his bed once again and looking down.

"Guess I just accepted the possibility at around the start of that whole thing, dying right there, that is. But it all turned out fine so… does it really matter? I'll take some time later to think about it."

The hospital room was silent for a moment, Aizawa sighing and sitting back.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I-" Peter began before stopping himself, thinking the question over quickly before sending a small smile at his teacher. "No, not right now at least."

Aizawa looked at him for a moment before nodding, letting the room fall back into peaceful silence.

Suddenly, his spider-sense buzzed softly at the back of his skull, making him look toward the door to the room which then made his teacher do the same out of curiosity.

Right on queue, the door slid open and revealed a green-eyed woman with brown hair that was around her early 40s, she looked frantic when she first appeared before calming down.

May Parker.

Way faster than Peter thought his aunt could move, one second she was at the door and the other she was at his bedside with her arms wrapped around him.

"Hey, May." Peter greeted, hugging her back. "You alright?"

May pulled back and started to run a hand through his messy hair, Peter could see a few small tears in her eyes.

"Alright? Peter, your school called me saying there was a heist at the museum your class was visiting and that then Endeavor nearly killed you! No, I'm not alright! Oh, I'm jus-"

Cutting herself off, May began to hug her nephew once again but a tiny bit tighter.

Peter didn't protest, he knew May needed this right now.

Besides, he needed it too.

A few minutes passed with May checking over her nephew as if to reassure herself he was still there, with Peter simply holding her until she calmed down.

Clearing his throat, Aizawa brought both Parker's attention to himself as he stood up from his chair.

"Mrs. Parker, I am Shota Aizaw-" He began, offering a handshake before being cut off.

"Oh, I know who you are." May smiled sweetly at the man and shook his hand. "Peter always tells me about you! You're that underground hero, right? His homeroom teacher?"

The man in front of her paused for a moment, looking over at Peter before nodding.

"You wouldn't believe how much he looks up to you! Every time he called to tell me about his day, he would always mention you a dozen times! It is a pleasure to meet you, Aizawa; I can't thank you enough for what you've done for my nephew, he wouldn't be where he is today if it weren't for you."

If there was a moment that Peter wished that Endeavor had actually killed him, it would be this one.

"May, don't tell him that stuff! That ruins our whole dynamic!" Peter protested, only earning a laugh from his aunt while Aizawa held a look that said he was unsure as to what to do.

Seriously, why would she say that?!

Their whole thing was that Peter annoyed Aizawa but they secretly liked each other to a point! You can't just say that, it ruins it!

Aizawa took another moment before ending the handshake and clearing his throat, changing the subject to bring them back on track.

"As I was saying-" Suddenly, Aizawa took a step back and bowed low in front of the woman, making both Americans raise an eyebrow. "I want to deeply apologize for letting Parker get injured under my watch, I would like to take responsibility and blame for what occurred today, I-"

He was about to keep going before being cut off by the woman in front of him while Peter simply watched on in astonishment.

Never in his life has he heard Aizawa actually… apologize for anything, now that he thought about it.

Made him look as if he actually had moods outside of annoyed and tired with the occasional grumpy.

"Oh, please don't do that." May began, making the man stand up straight again as to meet her eye. "I can't blame you for things out of your control, it was a case of wrong place wrong time, and besides…"

May looked over at Peter with a small, fond smile on her face and soft eyes Peter could see through her glasses while she turned the golden ring on her finger with her hand.

That was the ring Ben gave her.

"Peter wants to help people just like his uncle would have wanted, and from what the principal told me, he did just that. 

Being a hero is a dangerous job, no matter how much I wish it wasn't, but that's what Peter wants to do in his life; holding you accountable for him getting hurt while helping others isn't what he'd want, so I won't."

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