"I swear. I just push him a little! I don't want... well, I'm really angry at that moment. How dare that jerk insult Gwen!" Peter complains while carrying his backpack as they walk.
Stark slaps his back and comforts, "It's okay. Even if you beat him up, it wouldn't be a big deal. Someone molests your girlfriend, and you give him a punch, that's actually being lenient."
"I don't punch him..." Peter sighs in frustration.
"Alright, alright, I know. Let's go. I hire an Italian chef. We have pizza tonight," Stark says happily.
Now let's go back to this morning.
Peter came to school happily in the morning, waiting at the school gate for Gwen. They chatted while walking, and they were still reluctant to part at the classroom door.
Public high schools in the United States don't really care about dating. As long as their behavior isn't too out of line, the teachers don't mind.
So Peter and Gwen said their goodbyes, holding hands at the classroom door. At that moment, a player from the neighboring football team came over. Not only did he mock Peter, he also used offensive words to insult Gwen.
Peter was furious. The football player came over and made an obscene gesture towards him. In his anger, Peter pushed him away. Of course, the result was that the football player almost embedded into the wall.
Actually, Peter was almost able to control his own immense strength. However, he was angry at the moment. He pushed the other person with more force than usual. That person was sent flying and ended up breaking a rib.
As result, that person's parents reported the campus bullying incident to the school. The school had to invite Peter's parents as well, but Peter couldn't explain to his uncle and aunt where his great power came from. So he could only leave Stark's phone number.
The teacher, of course, made a call to the Stark Tower headquarters. After receiving the call, Jarvis specifically transferred it to Stark.
Stark arrived at the school driving a fancy car. How could the parents on the other side not know the richest man in the world? They immediately corrected themselves,claiming that it was a misunderstanding. Stark even encouraged Peter that he should have punched that jerk.
Gwen also comforted him, saying that the jerk deserves it. However, Peter is still very frustrated. As a good student, he never has to have his parents called in before. But Stark with his big mouth is bragging everywhere. Within two days, the news spreads throughout the entire superhero circle that Peter causes trouble at school and has Stark called in.
Children of this age don't like being treated like children. After this, Peter becomes the target of everyone's teasing, and he is very unhappy.
In the S.H.I.E.L.D. cafeteria, Steve says, "Actually, you can leave my number too. At least, compared to that bastard who stays up all night drinking, I look much better."
Coulson next to him jokes, "At least based on your age, you're more suitable."
"Based on relation too. I am Stark's uncle."
"But..." Steve cuts a piece of steak and says seriously, "You have to learn to control your emotions. I have the same problem when I first undergo the transformation. When emotions fluctuate too much, it becomes impossible to control your superhuman strength."
"How do you manage to improve in the end?"
"On one hand, you have to realize the problem yourself, and on the other hand, you can seek help from professionals to learn how to stabilize your emotions."
"I'm not a very angry person, actually," Peter says with some frustration. "But when it comes to some issues, I can't help it."
Steve smiles, "Don't worry, I'm the same way. When Peggy was in the military, there were troublemakers who would harass her and curse at her. I ended up giving them all a beating."
"Of course, you have to control your strength when you fight. Otherwise, it's easy to cause trouble. As long as you control your strength, it's just an ordinary brawl, at most you'll get detention."
Coulson raises an eyebrow. He doesn't expect Captain America to have this side. But it makes sense. The perfect saint-like image portrayed in promotional videos and movies can't possibly exist in reality.
In the evening, Peter arrives at Schiller's psychological clinic again. He says, "Doctor, I'm afraid I'll have to borrow your place to do my homework. My uncle and aunt insist on renovating my bedroom. The smell of paint still hasn't dissipated. I just can't stay there."
"Come in. Clean up that desk first. Pikachu! Pikachu! Come here now! Take away your boxes of peanut butter now. You've been occupying my desk for over three days..."
Peter picks up Pikachu, who jumps over, and frowns, "Are you getting fat? Why do I feel like you've fatter?"
"He's definitely fatter. If you eat five cans of peanut butter and two pounds of cheese every day, you would gain weight too."
Pikachu wags its tail and argues, "You should mind your own business, boy. I'm just a mouse, not a bodybuilder. What's wrong with being a little fatter?"
Peter opens his backpack in front of the table and takes out his textbooks. Schiller, cooking in the kitchen, chats, "I heard that your teacher called Stark to your school. Didn't the teacher get mad by him?"
"I had no choice. I can't explain to my uncle why I can push a 90-kilogram football player flying with one push."
"Oh, by the way," Peter turns and asks, "Doctor, can you teach me how to control my emotions? I don't plan to harm anyone. I just get too angry and can't control my powers..."
"Why would you do that? Why would you start thinking about controlling your emotions and restraining your powers?"
"Bec... because I don't want to hurt others with this power when I lose control."
"Why do you lose control?"
"Because that person insulted Gwen, and the words were very offensive."
"But isn't that his problem,right? He should learn to control his emotions, not you."
"But..."
"You're always too good at reflecting on your own problems and taking responsibility for everything. But the fact is, you exceed the ordinary moral standards by far, which will bring you greater pain."
"Blaming yourself for everything is not a good way. Have you ever considered the possibility that it's not you who is wrong, but the world?"
Peter opens his mouth, somewhat puzzled, and murmurs, "I thought... I thought a psychiatrist should be..."
"That's just what you thought."
Schiller walks over with a plate. Peter sniffs the aroma of scrambled eggs and can't help but swallow slobber. Schiller places the plate down and says, "Psychiatrists are not military instructors or school teachers. Our responsibility is not to tell you who is right or wrong in a matter. All the guidance and treatment I provide for you is from your perspective, putting myself in your shoes, and then discovering your psychological issues from a different angle..."
"Okay. I, I know that sometimes I overthink, always worrying about things that haven't happened yet."
"It's a common problem for geniuses, just like Stark."
"What happened to Mr. Stark?"
"He had a big argument with Pepper the day before yesterday, went out for a drive in a fit of anger, and got caught by Connors. The next morning, he was mocked by Connors, and then bumped into Steve outside..."
"And then he called me, asking if he's the world's biggest loser, and that's why the world is against him."
"And then?"
"Of course, I gave him about two hours of therapy, and after that, they made up."
Peter is skeptical, "What kind of therapy? Was it so effective?"
"I scolded him. After that, he felt that being scolded by others was still mild. So, of course, they made up."
At that moment, Peter feels sympathy for Stark.
After a while, Peter finishes his homework and dinner. He lies on the sofa, lost in thought, not playing games with Pikachu as usual.
Schiller is writing a paper at the nearby table. Peter rests his arm on his forehead and sighs, "Why are there so many strange things in this world? Why do troubles always come one after another? Why do people have so many worries?"
"Because your life is gradually improving. The better your life gets, the more trivial troubles seem to have an impact."
"Why don't you think about what kind of life you had when you didn't have so many worries? If you had these troubles back then, would you care?"
Peter ponders. When Uncle Ben and Aunt May had bad medical results and no money, Peter couldn't find a way out either. If there had been a argument with a classmate in school at that time, he would have quickly forgotten about it because he had bigger problems to deal with.
Compared to the pressure of survival, a minor argument was nothing. In the past, he wouldn't have had the time to lie here complaining; he might still do part-time job.
Peter says with a hint of wistfulness, "Sometimes, I always want to grow up quickly, go to college, buy a bigger house for his family, find a good job, and get married with Gwen. Isn't that what adults do?"
"But sometimes, I wish this year never ends. I can forever be a high school student, just attending classes, coming home to do homework, and then sleeping until morning."
Schiller listens silently, the faint sound of his keyboard echoing in the dimly lit room.
"Sometimes I dream, dreaming that countless stars weave a web, dreaming that I transform into a giant spider. Maybe being a spider isn't so bad, right?"
"And sometimes, I dream of losing Ben and May, and Gwen is gone too. The whole world is left with just me."
"They say dreams reflect the essence of a person's heart, do you believe that, Doctor?"
"I yearn for freedom, yet I fear losing it. I want to be a hero, but I don't even know what a hero looks like..."
Peter falls asleep before receiving an answer. The night sky outside is filled with stars, and only the computer screen is still glowing in the room. Schiller has already left.
Pikachu holds a pillow, stuffing it under Peter's head. Then it throws a blanket on top and murmurs to itself, "Humans have so many troubles. Among all the people who come and leave here every day, there isn't a single person without worries."
Then it stares at Peter and says, "You're already a lucky boy. Maybe all these people are lucky, even a rat..."
"Is there never a time in growing up without pains?"