Silence

Nine

Peter
I groaned and turned over. The pain in my stomach had gone away and instead my skin felt tight. I felt a hand go to my forehead and wipe away my hair. I started to open my eyes and groaned at the brightness. I couldn't verbalize anything because I couldn't hear anything, I'm sure it would come out as mumbles anyway. Someone tapped my knee and I squinted, opening my eyes just a bit. The light was dimmer and I felt safe opening my eyes. "How do you feel?" Bruce asked, his eyes soft and face worried. I saw another woman off to the side, she's Chinese, maybe Korean. I couldn't see Clint anywhere. I looked to the side and Natasha smiled at me.  'My skin feels tight. Where's Dad?' I signed and Natasha looked to Bruce. She said something I couldn't read. Bruce and the other lady moved to the otherside of the room and Natasha turned back to me. 'Clint is seeing a friend who woke up from a coma. I just texted him and he said he's on his way.' She signed in response and I nodded. I pointed to my ears and she dug in her pocket, pulling out my hearing aids a moment later.

I popped them in and waited for the noise level to adjust in my head. "What happened? I don't remember anything after going to bed Monday night." Natasha helped me sit up and she handed me a cup of water. "You were throwing up and Bruce had Clint take you in here. You passed out and didn't wake up until Tuesday morning, shortly before the diagnosis came in. Our doctor, Cho, she found several tumors in your Kidneys and Liver. You had stage two cancer and had to have immediate emergency surgery." My eyes widened and I put my hands to my stomach. I felt the stitches and frowned. "Had?" Natasha smiled. "You were announced to be cancer free last night. You've been out for a full day." I nodded and leaned back in the bed, my head swimming.

I must've fell asleep because when I opened my eyes, my hearing aids were out and Clint had taken Natasha's place. Next to him is a man with blonde-white hair. He looks sorta like Wanda and I wondered if this is the friend that woke up from the coma. I sat up and Clint looked away from his friend. His face split into a smile and he handed me my hearing aids. I slipped them in and he pulled me into a tight hug. "You scared the shit out of me Pete." I put my face in his shoulder and he let me go a few moments later. 'I'm sorry.' I signed and Clint shook his head, putting his hand on my cheek. "I'm just glad you're awake. I was going crazy. Did Nat tell you what happened?" I nodded and put my hand on my stomach, feeling the stitches. 'Can I take them out?' Clint grabbed my hand, pulling it away from my stomach. "Not until Cho says it's okay. She did say that if you're up for it, you can go upstairs. I think Sam and Buck are just about nuts with worry." I chuckled and looked to the guy I hadn't said anything to. "H-Hi." I cleared my throat and the male looked at me. "Hey kid, glad you made a strong recovery. I'm Pietro." He held out his hand and I shook it, seeing Clint smile out of the corner of my eye. "I'm Peter, though I'm sure he's already told you that." Clint laughed and Pietro pulled his hand back.

With the help of Bruce, I got all the wires and needles out of my body. "If you feel weak, dizzy, sick or even a little bit off, I want to know right away." Bruce said sternly and I nodded. "Clint can we prank everyone?" I asked turning on my heel. Clint grinned and nodded. "I'll go up and tell them that you haven't woken up yet and it seems your condition actually worsened. There is an open vent in the living room, go through the system, up in here, two rights and you'll hear voices." Clint explained and ran off, Pietro behind him.

Clint
I slowed my walk and made my face sad. I shuffled into the living room and I heard everyone stop talking. "Hey what's up with Pete? Can we see him?" Bucky asked and I lifted my head. "A-Actually no. He still hasn't woken up and Bruce said it looks like his condition worsened." Everyone's faces dropped and Nat put her face in her hands.

Peter
I stuck a web to the top of the vent and dropped down, hanging upside down. "Do you guys think that if we went back in time and taught dinosaurs to talk, their predecessors would talk as well and we would have talking chickens and lizards?" Everyone turned and Clint busted out laughing. "Peter!" Steve pulled me down from the web and trapped me in a hug. "Can't breathe!" I croaked and he let me go, giving me a glare. "Not cool." I sniggered and turned to Natasha. She looked like she was about to cry. "Aw Aunty Nat." I rushed forward and hugged her while she cried-laughed. "I saw you this morning! You're cruel." She pulled away and wiped her tears. "Cancer free bitches!" I shouted and accidentally shot a web into the air. It lifted me up and I yelled out in surprise. "Woah." Pietro muttered and Clint jumped up, grabbing my foot and pulling me down.

"Peter!" Clint called from what I assume is the kitchen and I poked my head out of the living room. "Someone by the name of Sage is here for you?" I furrowed my eyebrows and jogged into the kitchen. 'Pete!' They signed excitedly when they saw me. My eyes widened and I ran forward, tackling them into a hug. "SAGE!" I yelled and they laughed from underneath me. I got up, pulling them up with me. "What are you doing here?" They smiled and started to sign, 'I was recently put back into the system and I was trying to find you! The police said you were here and I took a cab. Who's that guy with the aids?' I looked back at Clint and he looked up from the paperwork. "That's my adopted father, he's signing the papers. Why were you put back in the system? I thought you were adopted when I was thirteen?" Sage shrugged and I could tell it was something not good. 'Same issue with May?' They nodded and I pulled them into a tight hug. "It'll be okay Sage. Are you expected back tonight?" They shook their head and pulled away from me. 'Can you ask your dad if I could stay for a few days? I don't really want to leave.' I nodded and separated from them.

"Hey Dad?" I asked, going to stand by his side. "What's up?" He looked up from his paperwork and looked back at Sage. "Uh, my sibling Sage wanted to know if they could stay for a few days?" Clint nodded and I grinned, looking a Sage, giving them a thumbs up. "Mind telling me the story?" Clint questioned and I beckoned Sage to come to us.

"Sage was adopted by May when I was six. We couldn't keep up with the funds, so when I was twelve, Sage went back into the system. They were adopted when I was thirteen and contact was cut off. I guess they were just put back in the system." I explained and Sage nodded, signing that it was correct. "Also, Sage is mute. They were born without the ability to speak and I taught them sign language so they could communicate."