Whumptober 2023, Day 15: “I don't need you to help me I can handle things myself.”
Makeshift Bandages | Suppressed Suffering | “I’m fine.”
(Still slowly catching up, but I’m getting there :) This one’s set in a different spider-based universe, with another spider-man named Phoenix. Phoenix is kind of like a “mom friend” towards Wisteria and a few others, and they’re the oldest one of the group. This is also an introduction for an alternate version of Victor, a demon of mine. There’ll be another fic about him in the future.)
Taglist: @n-anon @glitchyartist @theenchantedforestsystem @lirulua @ratwhowrites @burnt-pheonix @echoing-melody @hyenaskill @reformed-tempest @10th-no-name-person @malaboos-bodacious-blog @ghostofodellion @whumptober-archive
Tw: Death mention (if you squint)
“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Phoenix had always been the strong one of the group. They’d taken beatings and trauma beyond compare. They were an Avenger, and that was certainly saying something. Their world existed in a state of chaos, but they knew Wisteria would always try to help… but when they did, they repeated the same phrase they always did.
“I don’t need you to help me. I can handle things myself.” They simply didn’t want or need their friend getting hurt. They saw Wisteria like their own child, a member of the small group they wouldn’t want getting injured. The small group that had been… tentatively named “Team Friendship.”… at least, that’s what the group chat was.
“I can handle myself, Phoenix. I’m not a child.” Phoenix sighed, holding their tongue. They knew that they were, in fact, hundreds of years older than Wisteria, but Wisteria knew that already. They didn’t need it repeated to them.
“Besides, you might need the help! It’ll give me good experience that I can take back to my world. I mean, come on! Fighting alongside the Avengers for a day? It’s like a dream come true-“ Phoenix let out a soft sigh, before placing their head in their hands. Wisteria kept rambling, but it was, unfortunately, going in one ear and out the other. They had already made up their mind.
“Wisteria, my answer is no, and that’s final. I’m sorry, kid, but this one’s too dangerous for you.”They audibly groaned, and dramatically fell back onto the couch, letting out a huff. This caught the attention of the massive dog lying down in the room, causing him to trot over and sniff the suited-up arachnid. They absentmindedly administered a few pets to the retriever, who seemed to be adoring the attention.
“See? He thinks I should go.” Phoenix shook their head, walking away from the room and grumbling under their breath about how immature Wisteria was. It caught the attention of the male staring at several screens.
“Wisteria, again? Maybe you should let them come with. It’ll be fun for both them and you. It’s only a retrieval mission, after all.” Victor, otherwise known to this world as “Iron Man”, turned towards them, his chair swiveling in place for a few moments, red eyes watching them pace back and forth.
“Yeah, a retrieval mission. Good idea to let the 20-something with a web-shooter and an inability to shut their trap for 3 seconds into a stealth mission where they could get shot! I don’t want them getting themselves hurt, or worse, killed, Vic. I don’t want a repeat of…” They kept their voice down, trailing off a bit, but it was clear they were stressing about this. Victor sighed softly, understanding what they were saying, before taking a deep breath in and out.
“You make a fair point…. What if I keep an eye on the kid? I already have four little ones back at home, Dee’s watching them.” Phoenix looked about ready to object, but hummed a bit, seemingly considering it. They finally nodded, a bit hesitantly. He could still be helpful from remote distances, after all.
“Fine, the kid will stay with you. Don’t you dare get them into any trouble, or we’ll be having a talk after this, got it?” Victor rolled his eyes, but gave an affirmative nod. Phoenix left, presumably to go tell Wisteria the news.
So long as Phoenix didn’t find out about the trouble, it’d be fine, right?
