Silence

Five

When I woke up, I felt a lot better, but I had no recollection of getting to the couch. I turned to see Clint above me, his body reclined on the sofa, my head a few inches from his knees. I wondered if I woke up and ended up here. Regardless, it was Monday and I need to get up for school. I stood up and rubbed my eyes, not sure where my hearing aids were.

I emerged from my room, dressed in one of Clint's hoodies, jeans and beat up Converse. I watched Natasha leave her room and then stop when she saw me. "Hey Pete. Just waking up?" I shook my head. 'School. Do you know where Clint put my aids?' She tapped her chin and then shrugged. "Let's go find him." She suggested and put her arm around my shoulder. As we walked closer to the living room, I could feel vibrations in the floorboards. We rounded the corner and found Clint cooking, Mr. Stark talking to someone I didn't recognize and everyone else just milling around. I felt Natasha talking and Clint looked over at us from the stove. "Pete!" I saw him call and Natasha let me go. I walked over and he wrapped me into a hug.

He pressed the hearing aids into my ears and I tensed when the noise became loud. "Hey guys can we quiet down for a moment?" Clint asked and the room grew significantly quieter. "Better?" I nodded and he let me go. "After breakfast, I'm going to take you to school. Is there anything you do afterwards?" I opened the fridge and found the stashed Monsters. I grabbed one and opened it. "Patrol and I have an interview this afternoon for a cafe...the name escapes me." I laughed awkwardly and Clint smiled. "That's fine. Let me know if you need to be picked up."

After scarfing down breakfast and putting a hospital mask on, I was ready to go. "Have a good day!" Steve and Natasha called after me. I followed Clint out to the car, actually it was Natasha's car, but Clint laid claim to it. He had a motorcycle, but he didn't want to take me on it because of how sensitive I am to noise. I slid into the car and leaned into the leather interior. "Nat really knows how to pick her cars." Clint whistled and started up the engine, backing out and because there was no police on the road to Midtown, he sped.

I opened the door and Clint leaned to my side when I got out. "Text me if you need anything. And don't worry about Stark, we'll get this figured out." I smiled and he returned it. "Have a good day." I closed the door and he drove off, leaving me to deal with the students that had watched the exchange. I waited for Ned and he showed up not too long after Clint dropped me off. "Hey Pete." He did our handshake and I looked at the school. "Did May drive you?" I froze, feeling the grief and dread pour into my stomach. "Uh no. Ned, May passed away." I muttered and my best friend gasped. "What! N-No, Peter where have you been staying?" I smiled softly and hide my hands in Clint's hoodie. "My legal guardian is Tony Stark. He's switching custody to Clint Barton and he's adopting me." Ned's mouth dropped open. "YOU'RE BEING ADOPTED BY THE HAWKEYE?" I slapped my hand over Ned's mouth and everyone stared at us.

I walked with Ned to Chemistry and he talked animatedly the entire time. "Ned, no more please." I begged and he frowned before nodding. "I'm sorry, I'm not feeling well." I apologized and he smiled, though it never reached his eyes. He sat down and I sat next to him, putting my head down. "Mr. Parker!" The teacher called and I lifted my head, raising an eyebrow. The bell hadn't even rung yet. "No earbuds in class." I blinked before putting my hands on my ears. "Sir these aren't earbuds." I tried to explain and he gave me a mean look. "Take them out or I'll call home." I frowned and pulled the hearing aids out of my ears. I've never had this problem before, why now? The world became silent and I hoped that I wouldn't be called on in class.

I tried to pay attention and I ended up just nudging Ned and motioning for him to take notes for me. I'm still upset that I had to take my hearing aids out. The school said they would debrief the teachers. May made sure of it. Would Clint be angry if I get bad marks? I frowned and I felt a vibration in the room. Everyone started to get up and I went to slip out of the classroom, Ned behind me. I got out into the hallway and I put the hearing aids back in. "What the fuck!" I exclaimed and Ned gave me a confused look. "Dude you know that we can't have earbuds in class." I stared at him incredulously. "Ned I'm deaf!" I yelled and his eyes widened. Everyone around looked at us and Ned put his hands over his mouth. "Since when?" I groaned and rubbed my forehead. "Since my parents death. Ned we've been friends for years and you honestly had no idea? The hand movements I do? When you ask me questions and I can't hear you? I'm not just being an asshole!" I frowned and went to go walk away.

The rest of school was shit. Every teacher made a fuss about me listening to music in class and I was ready to throw a punch. Why is it that all the sudden people act like I've never been deaf? I decided to just go to the interview and go home. I didn't want to patrol, I wasn't feeling good and I honestly just wanted Clint.

I just wanted my dad.