Chapter Text
Ok, maybe hiding in a abandoned water tower in Queens was not the best ideea. The wood was rotten, and yes there was wood inside the tower, there was rust on every inch of the walls and full of holes. But still better then having the police take you and place in foster care! And overtime, Reilly Parker manage to fix a good portion of the wall, getting some isolation from the city! And big news! They finally got a bed in there! Thats where they were sitting on right now, looking at the celling and counting the holes in it.
Reilly has no ideea how long the will be able to live like this. It's been six months since Uncle Ben and Aunt May died in a home invasion. One that Reilly was sure that they could have stopped if they didn't ignore they powers.
Yes, surprise surprise, they got powers! How did that happen? Being bitten by a radioactive spider at the Horizon Lab. Parker Luck am I right?
That't what they do to pass the time. Being New York number one most hated vigilante: The Scarlet Spider. Or just menace according to J. Jonah Jameson.
It's not like Reilly didn't want powers! They just wanted to get in more control evarionment or be able to create they one super armor to replicate powers and all of these things as an ADULT! Not as a 15 years old, nonbinary teenage nerd!
They tried to avoid they powers at any cost, lying throu they teeth anytime someone had the smallest suspicion that something was wrong. Luckly, that was the only time Reilly was glad that Flash Thompson would belittle them and make up an excuse himself to unitentionally cover Reilly secret. The studens allways brought it and the teachers didn't think twice.
Ok, maybe that Jones girl might suspect something more, but Reilly doesn't know anymore. They haven't been to school for half an year now.
Maybe the students think that they might have killed themself after the death of they aunt and uncle or they got kidnapped and sold halfway across the world or other bad things that might had happen.
After losing count at the wholes on the celling, they sigh and look at the time on they phone. 10: 00 pm. Time for work.
They got up from the bed and start getting ready for work. And no, it's not Spidey work.
Looking through they clothes that they have on the floor (they are yet to get a closet), they pick an outfit for work.
A oversize dark blue sweater, ripped blue jeans, red shoes with doodles on them, fingerless black gloves, a black beanie, a pair of glasses (they didn't actually needed them to see, but it was good disguise), a black medical mask and finally, a black pair of headphones around they neck.
After making sure that they got they phone and wallet, Reilly gets out the water tower and parkour they way down the busy and chilly streets of New York in October.
Before they go to work, Reilly stops by a donut shop to buy a quick sneak before work. The place is named Peter Pan's Donut Shop (they cringe a little at the place name) and as soon as they entered, they were hit with all kind of sweet smells and warm. Reilly makes a bee line to the cash register, but stops for a second when the notice who works at it.
Michelle Jones.
She was sitting there, wearing a waitress uniform, looking bored out her mind.
Reilly first thought was to run and never enter the place ever again, but then they realize that this was the only cheap donut shop on the way to work and they didn't want to be late for work. They boss might had said that it was no problem if they were late a few minutes, but Reilly really didn't to test they luck with they boss patience.
They took a deep breath, make sure that they hair was sticking out they beanie to cover they face (they had an undercut with longer hair on top) and makes they way to the cash register.
Michelle gives them of look up and down (that made Reilly heart skip a beat) and in the most bored voice that the world had ever heard said : "Welcome to Peter Pan's Donut Shop, what can I get for you?"
After a quick look at what the shop had, they said in a perfectily calm and clear voice:
"O-oh... Uuuummm.. I-i w..would l-like a...a ..a s-s-simple gla-azed d-d-donut a-a-and a... uhhhhh... ho-o-ot cho-o-o-colate?"
Naild it.
She gives them a weird look but she then shrugged. "Whatever you say. That will be 2,99 dollars."
Reilly gives her three dollars and as she turns around to prepair they order, they add three more in the tip jar. She returned shortily with the donut first but when Reilly looked in the bag, they notice an extra donut in it.
They look at Michelle and before they could say anything, she answear the unasked question: "The second one is one of those that don't sell to well and I wanted to get rid of it."
Reilly looked at the donut again, it was a chocolate glazed donut with candy corn on top. They rise an eyebrow at Michelle, who shrugged again: "Halloween might be right around the corner, but people still hate candy corn. It comes off easy if you don't like it either."
She then gives them they hot chocolate: "Here you go Parker. Stay safe."
They were about to leave when they realize that Michelle just called them by they last name and quickly turn around.
"How did you-?"
She shrugged again. " I'm good at observing people... and your face is plastered on every wall in the school."
Oh.
They both stood in silence for a moment. Reilly opened they mouth first.
"Don't call CPS-"
"I won't call CPS on you Parker."
"Ok, thank-"
"Are you safe?"
This time it was Reilly time to shrug.
"I got a roof over my head?"
She squint her eyes. "Where?"
"Michelle, ple-"
"Where do you live Parker?" she rised her voice a little and they took a step back.
They look away. " In Forest Hill?"
"Parker-"
"Ok ok! It's a Water Tower! You happy now?" now it was them who rised they voice.
Michelle took a step back, didn't expecting Reilly to rise they voice. But soon recover herself.
"Take me there tomorrow." it wasn't a request.
"Miche-" they tried to find an excuse to not take Michelle Jones to they new "home", but what she said next made them fear her even more.
"Either that or I call CPS on you."
Now Reilly really wishes that they didn't enter the donut shop. With a sigh in defeat, they look at Michelle and said: "Fine. But if you call CPS on me, I move to Hell Kitchen!"
With out even second thought, she nods. "Deal. My number is on the cup. Text me later."
Reilly looks on they hot chocolate cup and indeed, her number was on it. They give her a look. "I will text you when I get to work. And no, I will not tell you where I work. All that I will tell you is that it's safe. Goodnight."
And with that, they were out the door. They did hear her say something under her breath.
"Goodnight....stay safe..."
Luckly, Reilly wasn't late, they were right on time. As soon as they entered they work place, they were greeded by a person covered in burn scars from head tp toe.
"Baby child! Your here!"
"Hi Wade."
Wade Willson gived Reilly the biggest hug in the world and than carried them behind the bar. Reilly is working at the Sister Margaret's School for Wayward Girls, a bar for mercenarys, as a bar tender and barista. They been working there for the last 5 months and Reilly had to admit, it wasn't a bad job. Yes,maybe in another life they would had been horrofied at the ideea of working in a seedy bar, but right now, this was the best work place for getting money and getting information for they "day job" (aka. Scarlet Spider).
As soon as Wade let Reilly go, they start preparing for the night.
First thing first, the way they look: Reilly took of the beanie and glasses, put they hair in a bun, rolled up they sleeves to reveal a few scars (some wounds didn't heal right and now they got scars) and finally put a black apron around they waist. They also carry on a bottle opener and a notebook. And quickly send a messaje to Michelle that they were at work and to not bother them.
Next they clean the bar, check the bottols, ice cubes, the coffee, ect. That was time Wade decide to start a conversation.
"So kid, how is your place coming along?" and Reilly sighs.They know Wade would worry about a kid being alone in New York, but they knew what they were doing.... for the most part.
"It's fine. Got the electricity going and got a bed in there. Still saving money for a heater now that it's getting colder. Still got a few holes in the celling, but I can live with it. How was work Wade?" but at first Wade seems to have ignored the question as his focus was on Reilly new scar on they arm ( some guy named the Scorpion did it) but he recoverd quickly with a shrugg.
"Same old shit. Got there, killed some fuckers, got back. But speacking of those fuckers, they had some weird ass alien tech! Like, anti-gravity shit or something!"
That got Reilly attention as they were cleaning some glasses. They looked at Wade with wide eyes and said. "I head about those weapons from other costumers!"
Ok, it might had sounded like a lie, but it wasn't a total lie. Reilly did hear around the bar about the alien weapons going around the city, but they also encounter them as Scarlet Spider.
"No shit?" said Wade surprised and Reilly nods. "Damn, I must be late to the party then. Kid tell me if you hear more about them, ok?" they nod again and now, at 11:00 pm, the officially open the bar.
"Ok big guys! The bar is open!" they called and soon enought, they started mixing drink.
Around 1 in the morning, Weasel, the bar owner, came to talk with Reilly as they were moping the floor. The bar being quiet as most of the mercenarys left for bountys or were on the floor, too drunk to move.
"Hey kid, half an hour remain and you can go home. Are you tired yet?" ask Weasel, signaling Reilly to leave the mop and come to the bar.
"Nah, I'm good. What can I get you boss?" said Reilly, preparing for whatever order they boss might want.
"You know what? I want a coffee and cocktail. Your choice. They don't have to work with one another." and with that Reilly nods and starts mixing the cocktail and prepair the coffee.
Reilly decide to give they boss Long Island Iced Tea and White Chocolate Mocha. Weasel took a sip from the coffee first with a smile and said "You know, you made a name for yourself with your drinks. It's harder then a dick to find someone that is actually good at this shit. Not to mention that adding coffee on the menu made even more people want to come here."
They smiled at the praise and starts cleaning some of the glasses in the sink. "I said before boss, it's basic chemistry. And a lot of the people that came here at night will afterword go after a bounty. Better give them a boost if they want to survive the night. Speaking of "surviving the night"... I want too add some halloween special cocktails on the menu. Can I boss?"
Weasel thought for a moment and said : "What do you have in mind?"
Soon the two where disscusing to add and not add on they menu, but that disscussion was cut short when someone entered the bar. Now, normally that wouldn't be a problem, but the thing was that the person in question was an Avenger, Hawkeye to be exact. If he was there, that meant Black Widow wasn't far behind. Problaby being backup outside.
He made his way to the bar, he was yet to notice Reilly.
"Good evening guys." he said sitting down at the bar.
Without missing a beat, Weasel points at Reilly and said "They are nonbinary."
Hawkeye look at Reilly and his eyes got wider. "Are you-"
"Am not a kid. I'm 18. But I'm short as shit so they call me Kid. What can I get you Mr. Barton?"they said cutting the Avenger off. It looked like he wanted to say something more, but stop. He then looked at the menu and turned back at Reilly.
"You serve coffee too?" and they nod. After a few moments of thinking, he decide what to order.
"I will have an Tequila Sunrise for now and a Tall Latte and Double Espresso on the go." and Reilly nods again and moves towards the cash register and type in the price for each drink.
"That would be 13 dollars and 50 cents sir." he quickly gives Reilly the money and as they were putting in it, the notice a note with the cash. Seriously, how did he do that? But what shocked Reilly the most was what was written on it:
"Do you have any information on alien tech being in the city?"
Reilly give Clint a quick look and a nod then said: "Hey boss? This is my last order before my shift is over, right?"
Weasel look weird at Reilly, but soon understood what the younger one meant. "Sure is. Can you come a bit early tomorrow? We still have to disscuss the halloween drink for the menu."
They give a thumbs up and then proceed to make the drinks. Reilly give the cocktail first and then started working on the coffee.
Clint eyed the drink for a moment before taking a sip. His eyes got wider afterword and did a double take.
"Damn, this is good!" he praised Reilly. They feeld a bit awkward, being praised by an Avenger for making a good cocktail, but they recover and give him a nod. With the coffee ready and the glass of cocktail empty, Hawkeye was out the door. Reilly quickly let they hair loose, put the glasses and beanie back on, rolled down the sleevs and too down the apron. Weasel given them the pay for the night, 60 dollars and adding the tip from tonight, 40 dollars (some mercenarys were too drunk to notice that they tip Reilly more then they intendet). They were about to exit when Weasel stops them.
"Be carefull kid. They will take everything you say and twist it in every way possible." they nod and exit the bar. Hawkeye was right outside, only one coffee in hand, the other being must likely with the Black Widow.
"I was being honest. That was one damn good drink. But we arn't talking about that now, arn't we?" he said and then take a sip from the coffee, once again giving the drink a double take.
"Ok no. There is no way you are that good at making drinks." that made Reilly laugh.
"So.... you wanted to know about some alien tech being in the city, right?" said Reilly and Clint nods.
And so, they started to talk.
"And thats all I know so far. Most of the rumors about the weapons circle around Brooklyn. They might have a base there."
Reilly was sitting on some old news paper on the pavement and Clint leaning on the wall.
"I see... thats all?" they nod.
"Ok....do you have any ideea if the weapons made it out the city?" Reilly thinks for a moment and answear.
"Deadpool mention today that he took a job in Maryland and some people had the tech." he gives them a look.
"Deadpool? Really?" now Reilly gived them a look.
"Hey, he might be a bit insane, but he is a good person tho. Cut him so slack!" Wade was one of the very few people that know where they live and they situation, he was allways kind and understanding, Reilly hated when peope gived Wade shit. They got and turn they back to Hawkeye.
"I told you everything I know. Now I gotta go. It's late and I would like to sleep. Don't follow me and that goes for Black Widow too." they were about to leave but Clint grabed they arm and put 500 dollars in they hand.
"Thanks for the information Kid. Come by the Tower if you find something new. And stay safe." they look at the money and give Clint a nod. They quickly got out the alley where they and Hawkeye were talking, but not before hearing him wispering: "Follow them."
Well shit.
Reilly took of running, hearing Black Widow not being far behind.
After running for a bit, a taxi stoped not far from them. Stoping next to the taxi, they see a man in they mid to late 20s, with a cap on and a moustache that Reilly was more then sure it was fake.
"Need help?" no spider sense warning them of danger, they nod and get in the cab.
"Que` esta` pasando?" he asks and Reilly was more then glad they were an A+ student in Spanish.
"Alguien me sigue!" they answear.
"Say no more." he press the gas pedal and took off.
After a few minutes of driving to avoid the Black Widow, Reilly started to relax.
"So kid, mind telling me why someone was following you in the middle of the night?" the cab drives asks. Reilly was reluctent to answear fully what happen, but the spider sense was really not warning them of danger. It was the opposite, the spider sense was telling them to trust the guy. Weird.
"I work at a bar and I hear rumors from time to time. Recentily, there were some crazy weapons poping around the city. Most of them being around Brooklyn. Thats all I know. Someone big wanted to know about them and paid me to tell them what I know. They must have thought that I know more and send someone to follow me." the man hums and looks up at the mirror. That give Reilly a weird feeling, as if there was someone else with the two in the cab, but it quickly dissapear.
"Ok kid. All that I can say is that to stay away from Brooklyn for now. Now, where do I drop you off uhhh...?"
"Just call me Kid, they/them. Everyone calls me that." the man nods and Reilly gives them an adress closer to where they Water Tower.
"The name is Jake by the way."
When they arrive at the destination, Reilly wanted to ask how much, but they were surprised to find that Jake gived the 100 dollars. A pay for the tip. They thanked Jake one last time and left the cab. The last thing they hear was this:
"The hell is a totem?"
Reilly collapsed in they bed, thinking of all the ways the night would could have gone better. But they have one last thought before going to bed:
"Shit.... I have to meet up with Michelle later today. But atleast I can now buy a heater!"