Author's Note: I had been thinking about some of the things Peter & Steve have in common, and about how we were robbed of any kind of meaningful relationship between the two, and boom, I decided to write this. :)

"…And then I was really sick for like, 3 days after that."

Peter Parker wasn't sure how they had gotten on this topic. One minute he was sharing a couch in the common area of the Avengers Compound with the Captain America, while said Captain helped him with an essay on the Great Depression, and the next minute Peter was regaling him with his "origin" story.

Captain Rogers, or Steve, Peter's mind supplied, now had a sympathetic look on his face. "That must've been scary for you. Did you have any idea what was going on?"

"Not at first, although I was kinda concentrating on trying not to die." Peter then added somewhat sheepishly, "And also trying to keep the worst of it from May & Ben"

"Why didn't you want them to know?" Steve asked, sounding genuinely curious without being judgmental.

"Because I didn't want them to freak out, that would have only made things worse. They did know I was sick, but at the time I was able to make them believe it was just a really bad flu."

Steve looked concerned. "So, you basically went through it without anyone being able to really help you?"

Peter was momentarily taken aback by that. "I never thought about it that way, but I guess I did, more or less."

"Wow," Steve replied, and Peter almost didn't believe it, but the older man seemed impressed. It wasn't the first time this happened but the fact that he could impress Captain America still floored him. Steve continued, "I at least had scientists and government officials to keep me company. Well, that, and undercover Hydra agents."

Feeling bold, Peter decided to ask further about Steve's own experience. "So, did it hurt when you, uh…" He gestured toward Steve, not sure how to word the rest of the question.

Luckily, Steve knew what he meant. "When I got the serum, you mean?"

Peter nodded. "If it's not like, a personal question or something."

"No, it's not personal", Steve responded. "Yeah, it was terribly painful. I only got a short briefing about what the serum would do, and I'm honestly not sure if even Erskine was certain of what would happen." Steve paused. "You know who Erskine is, right?"

"Oh yeah!" Peter said enthusiastically, "There's a picture of him in our history book. There's a couple of you, too. Kinda like a before and after, you know?"

Steve blinked at him. "I will never get used to that."

Peter grinned. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, there's a picture of Dr. Banner in our chem lab."

Steve shook his head in mild frustration, "You'd think it would, but it really doesn't. Anyway," He continued, getting the conversation back on track, "I didn't really know fully what to expect. But it was more painful than anything I had experienced before, and that's saying something, considering the number of street fights I'd gotten into. At one point, they wanted to shut the procedure down, but I convinced them that I could take it."

"Did it feel weird after?" It was weeks before Peter got used to not having to wear glasses or use an inhaler.

"Super weird," Steve replied in understanding. "I mean, at first, I didn't have much time to think about it, since I immediately had to chase down a Hydra agent, but the first chance I had a minute to think? Oh yeah. I remember looking down at myself and just staring at my hands. All of a sudden, I had gained all this height, weight, muscle mass, you name it. It was a lot to get used to."

Peter looked thoughtful. "I don't know what I would have done if the spider bite changed me that much on the outside. It was hard enough trying to explain to May & Ben that I didn't need glasses anymore."

"You are lucky in that respect because it wasn't all fun & games. I had to get all new uniforms for one thing." Steve said with a grin. "And my metabolism is so fast it took forever for our med team here to find pain killers that I wouldn't immediately burn through."

"Me too!" Peter chimed in excitedly. "At first they used to give me what they would use for you. Plus, now I can't eat peppermint anymore. Or thermoregulate, which really sucks in the winter. My body just wants to hibernate." He paused and looked at Steve with a grin, "I also heard from a reliable source that you can't get drunk."

Steve looked a little uncomfortable. "Dang it, Tony," He said under his breath. "That's true, I can't, but I wouldn't want you testing that theory on yourself. After all, I can still eat a candy cane whenever I want."

"Oh don't worry, Captain Rogers, I wasn't planning on it" Peter assured him.

Steve nodded in approval. "You know, I just realized that this is the most that I've talked about this in a while. But it's kind of nice to talk about it with someone who's had a similar experience"

"Yeah, same." Peter agreed. "Thanks for listening to me ramble."

"It's no problem, Peter. Now, you wanted to know more about how the Great Depression was for me?"

"Oh! Yeah…"