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Chapter Text

  Like the title suggests, the age of new superheroes came when the battle of the Avengers against those Chitauri aliens was won and over. Tony Stark, the man with his ego was proven to care for the city and its people by almost going off the edge of life to turn the missile from the huge city of New York (well, maybe he just didn’t want his building to be destroyed, but we all know so well that this wasn’t the case). Captain America always have been, and always will be America’s very first and the best hero, no doubt about that. Thor cared deeply for the “Midgard” and would do anything to protect it(well, probably protect Jane, actually). Even the huge green monster, once considered a threat was loved also. Hawkeye and the Black Widow went unnoticed by the media, which they preferred, for it would only make their job and future missions more difficult.

  Not only the city of New York, but also the whole country, in fact, welcomed the new allied form of powerful superheroes. It was a great time for us fans(I’m sure you are, since you’re reading this) to be happy, especially for the comeback of the American legend, Captain America.

   And this cheering, excited crowd didn’t exclude Peter Parker, an ordinary boy living with his aunt and uncle in Queens, New York. Well, not exactly “ordinary”, since he was scrawny and was a science geek with a mind of a genius, unlike other boys in his school, who was always bullied by Flash Thompson, a boy of his age. He always liked the Iron Man for the advanced technology, and looked up to his life-long hero, Captain America, just like any other boy. So when he saw them standing together, fighting together, actually, on the news, his first response was:

  “Holy sh-” without even getting the chance to finish it.

  “Did you see them?”

  “How could I not?”

  “Oh my gosh, they are sooo COOL!”

  And as expected, the whole school was talking about the appearance of the alliance of the greatest heroes in the United States the next morning. Even Flash, who always tried to look cool, was talking(and by talking, I mean babbling or should I say fangirling) to his basketball team about the “Freakin’ Awesome Avengers” with excitement like a little boy he once used to be. He was so excited that he forgot to pick on Peter even when he passed by his group.

  As for Peter, yes, he was also very excited, but actually had nobody talk to about the current event, so he just passed the enthusiastic crowds and, as usual, went up to his lockers only to find it hidden behind a couple, who were kissing and twisting like a pair of snakes tangled together. Again. Even as he struggled to open the door, they didn’t even tried to move out of his way. Why do they have to do their thing here? Peter thought as he barely succeeded to get his math book out. Then again, he was just a nobody in school whom everyone ignored. Only the personal punch bag of Flash Thompson, that was all.

  They were gathered in a small park guarded by a number of SHIELD agents. Doctor Selvig put the tesseract in the cylinder shaped container, which was held by both Thor and Loki. The rest of the team were wearing some kind of protectio glasses to prevent the light from hurting their eyesight. Loki had a mask-like thing on his mouth. He glared at Clint and Natasha, who whispered something to Clint, making him smile. The Avengers watched silently as Thor nodded and turned the handle, sending himself and Loki back to Asgard with the tesseract.
 

  After the two gods vanished toward the sky with blue light, the team shared the last moment before moving on. Knowing he and Tony had started off badly, Steve walked up to him and offered a handshake. After all, things had turned out pretty great eventually, and the two got along so well as a team.

  “No hard feelings?” Tony asked with a small smile.

  Steve shrugged a little and smiled before answering, “It was nice working with you.”

  Natasha took out the baggage from clint’s car and handed it to Bruce and smile, who sheepishly smiled back. He and Tony got on to Tony’s car and drove away. Tony had offered Bruce to come along and work with him, which he accepted. They would head to the Stark building in New York city, and while Bruce gets his own lab, Tony would work on fixing the broken building. Clint got into his car, with Natasha on the passenger’s seat. They were going back to SHIELD, under the supervision of director Nick Fury, back to what they were doing. Steve rode on his motorbike. He had agreed to join SHIELD eventually. But first, he had a lot to catch up on, starting with a new style and fashion. Although he was in a whole new world, he did have a pleasant experience already(although the war part was not that pleasing) with some good company, and he thought things weren’t going to be so bad for him after all. He smiled a bit as he drove on.

  “I don’t think you understand what you have started. Letting the Avengers loose on this world. They’re dangerous.” The female member of the World Security Council said.
 

  “They surely are. And the whole world knows it. Every world knows it.” Fury answered.

  “Was that the point of all this? A statement?” It was the head member talking.

  “A promise.” Fury answered with a small smile.

  After that, he walked out the room to the bridge. Agent Hill silently approached and walked along.

  “Sir, how does it work now?” She asked. “They’ve gone their separate ways. Some pretty extremely far.”

  Fury didn’t answer but just walked.

  “If we get into a situation like this again, what happens then?”

  “They’ll come back.” was Fury’s simple answer.

  “Are you really sure about that?”

  “I am.”

  “Why?” Agent Hill asked.

  Fury quietly answered, “because we’ll need them to.”

  Hill just silently accepted the simple(simple, but very strong and full of trust) answer and turned around before walking away. Simple, but very strong.

  Yes, the world was saved, and the heroes scattered to move on. But when danger rises again, they will come back. They would always come back, because we will need them. We will need the team.

   The age of new heroes has begun.

Chapter Text

  “Ow!”

  Four months later the battle in New York, a spider bit a boy. It was just one bite. One tiny little bite was enough to change the life of an ordinary boy Peter Parker forever. I mean, who could have possibly thought of getting the abilities of a spider?

  The night he first used his power, on the subway train, was a total shock for him; when he used skills and powers he never had before, he was really freaked out. When he first noticed that he had been bitten by a spider, he was so scared of the possibility of being killed by the poison. But then, the moment when he dared Flash to take the basketball came, and it was so exciting and somewhat sweet, too(only until he smashed the backboard of the hoop and got community service along with uncle Ben’s scolding, of course). And as he got used to his new body, his work with Doctor Connors, helping him on his research with the solution to the decay rate algorithm Peter came up with, was getting a successful results at the time. These sudden new kind of days seemed to be the reward for all the hard times he’d been through in his life. Up until that day, everything was just great.

  But then again, nothing is free in life. As if it were some kind of a price, Peter lost his uncle. His uncle, Ben Parker, died, and it was all his fault. If only he hadn’t run away from home that night. If he had caught the thief in the convenience store. He had the power to do so, but just walked away from it. It was all his fault. And he just couldn’t live with this selfish, pathetic, useless self and decided to go after the killer. He just needed someone other than himself to blame for Ben’s death, that was all. He knew so well that it was no other than his own fault, but wanted to blame someone else. He needed something to do other than cry and be so helpless. He needed a purpose of life.

  After his first hunt that failed miserably, only exposing himself to the bad guy, he became more scrupulous. He started to cover his face with a mask, and developed a web shooter with the bio cable produced by Oscorp. He hacked into the police radio for information and made his own costume with spandex that covered from his head to toe. He swung through the city every night, looking for the man guilty of his uncle’s murder, capturing every single criminal, and became New York’s new vigilante without any intention to do so(at first, but he did start to enjoy this new title and accepted it willingly). But while the media and the citizens called him “vigilante”, he was nothing more than an anarchist and outlaw to the police.

  Still, he was not a ‘hero’ until this new giant lizard thing appeared and attacked people out of nowhere. The first attack was on Williamsburg bridge, where peter saved a boy from a burning car, Seeing the boy and his father rejoice, he began to concern about his actions. Uncle Ben had said: You owe the world your gifts. But even without this, he had the responsibility to protect the people from the Lizard because he was the one who created it with the damn algorithm. So when he found out that the Lizard was Connors, he went straight to Captain Stacy, his girlfriend Gwen Stacy’s father, to tell it, only to be considered crazy. He tried to get a proof himself, but failed with Connors finding Peter’s camera.

  It was the next day the whole thing started. It began with the Lizard visiting Midtown Science High, through a toilet.

  “Go! GO!”

  Peter yelled at Gwen, who joined the panicked group and ran outside. Peter left behind and tried to stop the Lizard on his own. He first made an attempt to talk it out.

  “You’re not thinking straight, Doc!” Peter said. He was on top of the Lizard, trying not to hurt him. “Stop it. This isn’t you!”

  But, the Lizard was so determined that after this small(I’m not sure if I can call it ‘small’, but at least it didn’t destroy the whole school - just ‘part’ of it) fight, he just left there to move on to the next phase: helping the weak humans by turning them all into lizards.

  Nick Fury sat in his office in the SHIELD headquarters in Washington D.C. with a file on the latest event in New York: the giant lizard creature. Just then agent Hill hurried inside.

  “Sir, New York is currently under an attack!” She said urgently.

  “Is it the lizard thing again?” Fury put down the file and stood up.

  “It seems so.”

  Fury turned around and looked out the window. The sight of the D.C. looked so peaceful, unlike downtown New York.

  “Who’s the nearest available?”

  “Doctor Banner, but I don’t think he could help out that much.” She said. Fury didn’t answer, so she talked on. “Otherwise, we can send Captain Rogers over.”

  “What about Spiderman?” Fury said quietly.

  “Sorry, sir?”

  “Is Spiderman doing something?” Fury turned to face Hill. She looked a bit confused.

  “I heard he is after the mutant.” Hill said.

  “Get Captain ready for back up just in case. But he’s not going there unless things get out of control.” Fury ordered.

  “Yes, sir.” Hill answered with a nod before jogging back outside.

  “A giant mutant lizard?” Steve asked as he walked alongside Hill. He was in his uniform, without the cap(or mask, or whatever you call it). They were heading towards a jet. “What is that?”

  “We don’t exactly know what it is yet.” Hill answered. “We need to see how thigs go before actually taking off.”

  They got on the jet. The pilot was in the seat so they can move right away if necessary. Steve looked at the monitors that showed several local news footage of the situation in New York. One was fixed on the green creature climbing up the Oscorp tower. Next to it was another fixed on Spiderman the Vigilante, slowly going up a small apartment building.

  “Spiderman appears to be heading towards Oscorp. He looks injured, and it’s really not clear if he’s going to make it.” A female anchor’s voice said. Steve watched the guy in the video seriously. Hill was next to Steve, her arms crossed. Beside the sound from the videos, there was only silence.

  And it all ended with the clear blue serum being shot into the sky. When the giant cloud of antidote was shot, the Lizard smiled widely, thinking it was the serum for transformation. After all, Peter barely managed to get the antidote in it just a few seconds before it was launched. And, as we all know, everyone that had turned into lizards came back to normal, including Dr. Connors. He got arrested, citizens were saved, and all seemed to be good.

  Except the fact that Captain Stacy died.

  Peter blamed himself, just like when his own uncle died. And it washis fault, for Captain Stacy was just helping Peter out. And that is why Peter couldn’t show himself at his funeral, but just hide on the rooftop in the rain. As she came out of the chapel, she felt something from above, and looked up to find the raining gray sky. Somehow, she just felt like Peter was there, above her. She wasn’t even sure if he was there or not. Maybe she just wanted to believe it that way. But even if he was there, she wanted him right next to her, comforting her, not hiding in some shadow.

  Peter opened the door and faced Gwen, but still failed to meet her eyes.

  “Where have you been?” She asked him straight away. You were there, weren’t you?

  “Hi.” Peter said the unsaid greetings, not looking in her eyes.

  “My father died.” Gwen said. She tried to scan Peter’s face. “There was a funeral.”

  Peter didn’t answer.

  “They shot off...rifles and they made speeches.” Gwen started to cry. “Two of my teachers showed up. And Flash showed up. Everyone was there but you.” Why weren’t you next to me?

  Peter’s eyes became wet. He tried to wipe the tears off Gwen’s face, but he remembered what he had promised to Captain Stacy.

  To keep away from Gwen.

  “Can’t do this. Can’t do this.” He said. “I’m sorry. I can’t...”

  “What are you saying?” Gwen asked, a bit confused.

  “I can’t see you anymore. I can’t.” Peter said sternly. but more to himself rather than to the girl in front of him.

  Gwen just looked at him with her big beautiful but sad eyes with disbelief. She then turned around and walked down the steps before turning and asking, “He made you promise, didn’t he? To stay away from me. So I’d be safe.”

  Peter just looked at her. The silence was the most cruel and definite answer she got. She just turned around, and Peter could do absolutely nothing but watch her leave.

  “Mr. Parker, tardy again?” Ms. Ritter said as Peter walked in the next day and sat down behind Gwen, who was clearly trying to ignore him. “Well, at least we can always count on you.”

  “Sorry Ms. Ritter, it won’t happen again, I promise.”

  “Don’t make promise you can’t keep, Mr. Parker.” The teacher said.

  Peter then leaned forward to let his whisper be heard by Gwen. “Yeah, but those are the best kind.”

  Gwen couldn’t help smiling.

  “Barton. I want you to keep an eye on him.” Nick Fury said to the agent as he tossed the file lightly on the desk. Clint picked it up and looked inside. What he saw was the picture from a newspaper with the new vigilante of New York city in it. “Get every information you can get on him.”

  “Do we have a name of this guy?” Clint asked.

  “That’s the most important thing you need to learn.” Fury said. “For all we know, he’s been dubbed as ‘Spiderman’. Other than that, nothing is known about this one.”

  “So how am I supposed to watch him?” Clint asked, confused.

  “He’ll show up at every crime scene in New York. Find him, and keep track of him.” Fury said. He turned around and looked out the window.

  “What do you want to do with him?”

  “I want to get him under SHIELD’s supervision.”

Chapter Text

  Three men inside, one out in the getaway car.

  Peter assessed the situation from his hiding spot. The van had stopped in the alley, right in front of the back door of the building. Three men, all covered thoroughly in black from head to toe, came out from the car. Each one was holding a machine gun in both hands. Peter couldn't help smirking at this sight. Looked like he had already found the first job of his day, and it wasn't even past 5 o'clock yet.

  As he kept on eyeing the van, Peter silently took off his shirt, revealing the red and blue spandex suit underneath. While he was transforming into the infamous vigilante, the group of three had entered the building. As the door closed, Peter, now as Spiderman, quietly approached the car towards the front passenger seat. Peter knocked on the window in a very casual manner. The driver actually jumped and bumped his head on the ceiling. He whipped his head around to find the vigilante looking at him. This guy, for some reason, was not even wearing his mask. Seeming genuinely taken aback, he stared at Peter as he busted the door open.

  “Hi! Good afternoon!”

  Peter said brightly. The man had completely frozen right in the seat, not even blinking. Peter tilted his head to his left in confusion but soon continued talking in a very mocking tone.

  “You should really lock the door when you're alone in a car. Such a dangerous world these days, you know?” He said cheerfully, like those hosts from Late Night talk shows. “So many things going on, right? Violence, mugging, robbery....”

  “Shit!” The thug, now back to his senses, hurriedly tried to take out his handgun. But there was no way he was faster than the human spider, for half a second later, he found his hand stuck on the window.

  “Ooh, you don’t wanna do that.” Peter said with such a playful voice.

  Clint turned on the water and let his hand get soaked with its coolness. He looked up to check himself reflected in the mirror. While taking a fairly long time to wash off the soap, he quietly stared at his own face. He looked into his own blue eyes and was lost deep in his thoughts.

  Screw that spider-boy.

  Clint said to himself in his mind.

  And screw Nick Fury, that bas-

  "GET DOWN ON THE GROUND NOW!“

  Clint snapped his head towards the archway to the restroom at the shouts followed by several gunshots. He instantly turned the water off and froze so as not to make a noise. The sound of People screaming echoed throughout the building.

  Must be a robbery.

  Then he heard a low male voice barking.

  "Go check the toilet. You! Get out all the cash! Now!" He said harshly. "You people also better take out all the money you have! Right Now!“

  Clint had quickly hid himself in a space next to the toilet compartments, in the farthest corner from the entrance archway. It took merely seconds until he heard footsteps approaching. By the sound of them, it was presumably just one guy. He waited in silence, preparing himself for a quick and proficient attack. When the thug made his way into the restroom and into his line of vision, Clint did not hesitate to swiftly subdue him. He soundlessly snuck up behind the robber, took his handgun out from the man’s holster, loaded it and pointed it at his head from behind.

  “Make one noise, and you’re dead.” Clint said.

  The man froze on the spot. “Put the gun down. Quietly.“ Clint’s voice was dangerously cold and threatening, which made the thug comply without a single word(it was so obvious to clint that the man was trembling).

  “You! Do it faster!” There were some more shouting coming from outside.

  Clint then hit and stunned the man in front of him with the gun and nimbly caught him before he could hit the floor. He dragged the unconscious guy into one of the compartments and posited him on the toilet seat. He then took the mask off the guy’s head and began to put it on his.

  Right hen, he heard, “Hi! I’m Spiderman!”

  Spiderman?

  Clint froze instantly and snapped his face up in surprise. He finished up wearing the mask at once and quickly came out of the compartment. Picking up the machine gun from the floor, he sped outside.

  “You! Do it faster!”

  The seemingly leader of the gang began to pressure the poor trembling banker. Along with that scared man, several other workers were behind the desks with him, busily taking out the cash. While the leader was keeping his eyes on the bankers, the other was scanning the customers. They as well were being forced to give up their money and valuables. So, basically, everyone had their own tasks at hand, and was distracted enough to notice a man in bright red-and-blue tights standing at the mouth of the hallway to back offices.

  “Ahem!”

  The sudden sound had the people stop what they were doing and turn their eyes toward the source. What they saw was Spiderman standing with his right hand raised.

  “Hi! I’m Spiderman!”

  There was only silence in return. Everyone was literally frozen with their eyes on this new character. Even the robbers seemed to have momentarily forgotten what they were doing due to the sudden, should I say, nonsense.

  So Spiderman continued, “You guys know me, right? I’ve been all over the media for the past couple of days.”

  The group leader swore loudly as he pointed the muzzle to him.

  “Shut up or I kill you!” He yelled out, but the voice was clearly panic ridden.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa. No need for that scary toys.” Spiderman said in a scared tone, throwing both hands in the air, “Let’s just talk it out, shall we?”

  Still, the trigger was pulled, and numerous bullets were fired continuously from the machine gun. The screaming of people were added to the gunshots, and it was like a huge mass of different sounds, loud noises, mixed together. Both muggers kept on shooting at the bouncing vigilante. While they were busy trying to perforate his body, a man started running for the doors. Other people followed suit, screaming. From outside the building, blaring sirens became louder, although muffled by the gunshots and screams. All hell had broken loose when Clint finally made it to the scene.

  “You should- Really- Stop!” Spiderman shouted in between his jumps. “The Cops— Are— Coming—!”

  He jumped onto a wall, then to the ceiling. Evading the bullet, his next move was landing a hard kick on the leader’s head. He softly landed on the guy, using him as a cushion, rolled once to the side, and stopped in a crouching posture. Clots of webbings shot out, attacking the other robber’s eyes, and, well, his unmentionables. The man staggered, yelping in pain, and dropped the gun. The vigilante in tights subsequently stood up over the fallen leader, and blasted the sticky materials to attach the man’s limbs tightly to the floor.

  Clint watched the entire thing wordlessly. When he got to the scene, he found Spiderman doing his thing. At first, he thought of helping him out, of taking down the bandits himself. But he was a bit curious how the so-famous vigilante handled the situation. And frankly speaking, he was, in a sense, astounded. Although it may be nothing like what he had seen from his teammates, it was still very impressive for a teenager’s work.

  Spiderman, feeling a tinge of somebody watching him, turned around to see yet another masked man looking at him.

  “Oh, there you are! I was wondering where you went!” Spiderman said, walking toward him,

  Clint also started to step forward, but found himself pushed into the wall behind him, both his hands clamped to it.

  “Oh, I’m afraid you can’t move just yet.” the vigilante said.

  “What the-? I’m—”

  Right then, the policemen burst inside with their guns drawn. All heads, those of the bankers’, Clint’s, and Spiderman’s, turned to the uniformed group of people.

  “Afternoon, officers!” Spiderman greeted them brightly. “They’re all yours!”

  The officers put away their revolvers to start working on the ones on the floor and one of them walked towards Clint.

  “Oh, and there’s another one in the back alley. Right by their van.” Spiderman informed them, indicating the direction.

  A couple of them headed to the back door while the others were busy arresting the criminals and getting things under control. One of them was taking statements from Spiderman about the incident. A female officer approached Clint to get the webbings off and, most importantly, arrest him.

  “Wait! I’m not one of them!” Clint began talking when she had took the mask off him, a bit irritated. “Really, the guy’s in the toilet.”

  “Right.” The policewoman replied sarcastically with a smirk.

  “I knocked him out in the bathroom and wore his mask.” Clint sighed.

  “Yeah, well, you can tell all about it in jail.”

  Gosh, she was stubborn. Clint just rolled his eyes.

 Oh, great.

  “Mr. Peter Parker?”

  A woman came inside the interrogation room.

  Peter just looked up at the woman without answering. He was nervous, confused, and a bit annoyed to just be in that dimly lit space. Seriously, who would not be when they were met with police car right after walking out of the school and were led to a police interrogation room on a normal day? It made him feel guilty and uneasy for no reason.

  The woman had a short, curly, dark red hair. She was definitely attractive, and even though she was dressed in a short skirted dark navy suit, it was not enough to hide her glamorous features. From her outward appearance, she looked like a sharp, well experienced lawyer or a similar sort, but there was something dangerous and secretive lurking deep within her.

  She raised her brow at the lack of reaction from the teen, but said nothing and sat at the opposite side of the table.

  “I apologize for such a sudden encounter.” She began.

  “Am I in trouble?” Peter asked abruptly.

  “Is there a reason to believe you’re in one?”

  Peter hesitated. He looked down at his hands.

  “Well, I don’t know.”

  She gazed into his face. Peter felt slightly uncomfortable before her piercing eyes, but tried hard not to show it.

  “You worked on a project with Dr. Curt Connors, am I right?” She asked.

  Peter looked up instantly. So this was what it was all about? To ask about his work with Connors? Were they thinking of arresting him for helping him out with the formula?

  “You played a crucial part in finishing up that formula he used.”

  Peter swallowed before blabbering out.

  “I did, but I didn’t know he was going to use it like that. i mean, I was there when we did the simulation, but really, I....”

  “I’m not trying to accuse you of anything.” The woman quickly said. “I also am not going to arrest you. I’m not even with the police.”

  Peter looked at the woman in confusion. Okay, what...?

  “I’m agent Romanov, with Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division.”

  Okay. Double that ‘what?!’

  Peter gaped at the ‘agent’.

  “You’re from SHIELD?” He choked out the words from shock. She cast her eyes down with a slight, almost invisible, smile in confirmation. Then she looked him in the eyes.

  “And on behalf of our organization, I’m here to offer you a position within our Division.”

  They were now on a rooftop of a skyscraper in the city. Spiderman sat on the short wall fencing around the open space, facing inward. Clint stood next to him, leaning on the wall.

  “Okay, is it about what happened in the bank again? ‘Cause I’m really sorry, man.” Spiderman was the first to start up the conversation. “But you should know that I had no way of knowing that you weren’t one of them when having a mask on like that.”

  “No, this is something else.” Clint answered. “I am pissed at you, but not for today’s incident.”

  Spiderman turned his head and gaped at the man beside him.

  “Wait, so you’re pissed at me for another reason?”

  “Yeah. Very pissed.” Clint answered with a smirk. “Because I’ve been wasting my time following you around for the past few days.”

  Although the mask was hiding any kind of facial expression, Clint could easily tell that the vigilante’s mouth fell wide open.

  “So that was you?” The high tone was evidently showing how shocked he was.

  “Yeah, it was me.” Clint said. “And you ditched me, every single time.”

  “Yeah, well, kinda freaked out with all your stalking.” Spiderman answered casually.

  “Oh, believe me, that wasn’t my idea.”

  “Sooooo,” Spiderman hopped off and stood in front of Clint. “Here I am, in the flesh. For what did you want to meet me so badly?”

  Clint straightened up from the wall.

  “Name’s Barton. I’m working as a SHIELD agent.”

  Spiderman was once again at a loss of speech. He was instantly reminded of encountering the red haired, charming agent(oh yeah, her beauty was definitely unforgettable) from SHIELD on the previous day.

  “SHIELD?” Spiderman repeated the word.

  “You don’t know? Strategic Homeland Interventio—”

  “No, no. I know what it is. But why are you guys interested in me?” The vigilante’s voice was clearly soaked with confusion.

  “My boss wants to keep an eye on you. That’s why.”

  “Keep an eye? But that means....”

  “He wants to know who you are, what you can do, and if you’re trustworthy.”

  “Trustworthy?”

  “With that Lizard thing going on, many people are calling you a hero. Still, you used to be and are still, by some people, considered a vigilante, rather than a hero. An anarchist.”

  “So you guys need to make sure I won’t cause a social chaos or something?”

  Clint shrugged.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Well, that’s offensive.” Spiderman mumbled with an awkward laugh. Then he fell silent. Clint studied the presumably teenage boy. He seemed to ponder on what he had just heard.

  “I don’t wanna force you. Hell, I don’t even like the idea of someone like you getting into this kind of business.” Clint said. “But if you are not going to stop, then I suggest you accepting our offer.”

  “You know you haven’t made an official ‘offer’ just yet, right?” Spiderman replied. “What is it that you guys are actually offering? And what do you mean by ‘someone like me’?”

  “What we’re proposing is,” said Clint, “you joining the Avengers.”

Chapter Text

 Peter was sitting at his desk in front of the computer. On the screen were just several internet websites about the ideology during the first and second World Wars. Beside him lay his History textbook around the Cold War part. His chin rested in his hand and eyes were fixed on the screen. His other hand was holding the mouse, his finger busily scrolling down the page. Yet, his eyes were devoid of concentration and were just simply.

 Sighing loudly, he turned the monitor off and got up. He stretched his arms and legs before beginning to pace around the room. His eyes turned to a small black card on his desk. Scratching the back of his neck, he picked the card up. A series of white numbers were written in the middle of it, and Peter just stared at them. He paced around for some time, constantly playing with the card in one hand. As he kept moving, he slowly looked around his room. At one point, his eyes stopped at the family photo of him and his parents on one side of the wall. His eyes were fixed on it for quite a while before returning to the card in his hand.

 Oh, his head was definitely crowded with thoughts, alright. A Position at SHIELD. He had to admit that it was a big opportunity. After all, it was a position -- a job -- that was being offered to him. It meant a stable future, or at least a career that could help him for one. And it was quite in an early stage, too, considering that he hasn’t even graduated from high school yet. Commonly thinking, there was no big reason for him to refuse.

 But then, Peter was not a common people, and he could not just not think about how it is likely to affect his career as Spider-Man. Having a job meant less time for crime-fighting. Especially since it is SHIELD, he was afraid that sooner or later they will find out about his dual identity and try to regulate his activities. As much as he valued the opportunity to work in such a big organization, he did not really feel comfortable being registered within the system, especially about his secret identity.

 It was driving him crazy.

 He was so lost and perplexed in those numerous kinds of considerations that it felt like his brain was physically flooded with them. It was starting to give him headaches.

 So he just collapsed on his bed, gazing up at the ceiling. He closed his eye briefly and started thinking different possibilities. Minutes passed before he finally opened his eyes, got off the bed, picked up his phone and started dialing.

 “A... position?”

 “As a lab researcher.” Agent Romanov answered. “It has been suggested that your intelligent could be put into use for the Science department.”

 Peter could do nothing but just gape at the woman in front of him. This was something that he could never have and never will anticipate. He just blinked at her, slowly digesting what he had just heard.

 “So SHIELD is offering me....... a job?” Peter slowly got the word out.

 “That’s another way to put it.”

 He started wondering, what could be the reason that SHIELD would want him. His head was going through what he thought were probable reasons. Then suddenly, an idea flash through his mind: what if SHIELD was suspecting that he was Spiderman and was trying to monitor him by pretending to give him a job? Since SHIELD was another government agency that was deeply associated with things like the alien attack in New York and the and supernatural or superhuman activities. What if their next target was Spiderman?

 “Okay....... Um....... Why? Why would SHIELD want to give me a job?” Peter frowned deeply with genuine confusion. Still, he quickly added, “Not that I’m complaining or anything.”

 Agent Romanov got a folder from the chair next to her. She put it down on the table and pushed it towards Peter, who slowly pulled the folder to himself.

 “Dr. Connors has been working for a long time on the subject of Cross-species genetics. But all he did was coming up with a theory and conducting series of research that did not present a viable way of realizing it.”

 As she talked on, Peter opened the folder. The first thing he saw under the cover was a summary of Dr. Connors’ research progress. As he scanned the paper, Agent Romanov continued talking.

 “Then earlier this year, he suddenly managed to create something that was applicable to an actual living subject. Flawed failure, yes. But still it was something of a remarkable progress made. As we looked into last week’s attack, we found out that you were involved. Not just involved, you were the one in fact that played the most important part in creating that serum.”

 Peter just kept looking at the paper. He could sense the guilt crawling up his mind all over again.

 “While it is true that Dr. Connors has inflicted significant damage to the city, it also proves your intelligence.”

 Peter finished going through several pages on Dr. Connors and the Lizard attack, he shifted his attention to the ones under them. When he acknowledged the content, a frown came up on his face. They were none other than his own report cards and student records, from his primary school years to the latest one he got just a few weeks ago.

 “Excelled in roughly all subjects, but especially conspicuous in science-related fields. Won a couple of science fairs, I think that is enough to show both your potential and capabilities.”

 So were they really trying to recruit him just for his own scientific abilities?

 “Is this....... Is this the only reason why you guys wanna have me?” Peter asked cautiously.

 Agent Romanov frowned a bit as if she was confused.

 “Should there be a different reason behind this?”

 Peter eyed her carefully as he tried hard to look casual.

 “I mean, I just……. I was just……. wondering if it really is purely due to my own personal talents.”

 Did they really not know? About what he does?

 At that, Agent Romanov did not immediately replied but rather seemed to ponder about something. Then she slowly and carefully started to answer.

 “I will be truthful with you. It will come up sooner or later. The fact that you are the son of Richard and Mary Parker was also a factor.”

 Peter just blinked dumbly at the unexpected response. Then his eyes widened. Mom and Dad?

 “Mr. and Mrs. Parker were prominent scientists that studied cross-species genetics. You would probably already know that.”

 Peter just silently listened. So Agent Romanov continued talking.

 “Before their deaths, SHIELD had been in contact with them, for their research. They were working with us until they disappeared with their work and were found dead.”

 Peter blinked slowly as he absorbed the new facts into his brains.

 “Their bodies were found, but their work had vanished. We figured that by chance you might have something related, especially since you did show to have some knowledge on that matter and contributed to Connors’ work.”

 Peter was instantly reminded of his father’s briefcase. So what SHIELD wanted was actually his parents’ work. At least for now it did not seem like his extra curricular swinging activity has been uncovered by the government just yet.

 While he was silently having his contemplation, Agent Romanov pushed a black card with some numbers written on towards him.

 “I know you need some time to think about it. Call us when you have made your decision. But it would be better to do so as soon as possible.”

 Peter picked up the card and looked at the numbers. She looked at him for a moment before standing up from the chair. She gathered the file in the folder and picked it up before she walked to the door.

 “Think it over and let us know.” She said with a smile and left the room.

 Natasha Romanov walked down the hall of the SHIELD Headquarters. She did not stop nor did she slow down as her phone vibrated in her hands and she answered the call.

 “Romanov.”

 Director Fury’s voice came through the speaker.

 “Come up to my office.” There was a brief pause before he added, “now.”

 Natasha caught a brief hint of urgency in his monotonous voice.

 “On my way.”

 Although it wasn’t for long, Peter completely forgot about the dilemma he had been stuck with while he talked with Gwen. Just the sound of her voice was enough to get rid of all his concerns. Just a mere sense of her presence soothed him and had his mind free of worries.

 He had laughed at the adorable joke his girlfriend just made.

 “Alright, it’s late. Go back to your work now.” Peter said.

 “See you tomorrow, bug-boy.” Gwen’s voice replied brightly. Peter chuckled.

 “Yeah. See you.” Peter smiled as he hung up the phone.

 Putting down the phone on his desk, he got up from his seat and stretched his arms once. His bright mood died down a little as his thoughts went back to the job offer returned to him once again. He shook his head once before sitting down at his desk and trying to redirect his focus on the textbook in front of him. His efforts, of course, were not working.

 He rested his chin on his arm and let his mind drift back to that afternoon.

 “AVENGERS?” Peter couldn’t help yelling out loud. “Join the Avengers? ME?”

 Unlike Peter who was obviously shocked, Agent Barton shrugged casually. “Well, that is the official proposal, yes.”

 “Why...?” Peter stuttered out. “Why would you want me in the Avengers?”

 “Like I said, you’re considered a vigilante and sometimes even an anarchist. We want to put you under our control.” Agent Barton answered. “And let’s not forget that you have saved the city from that lizard thing not long ago, which kinda showed your capabilities. And you clearly seem to have some superhuman abilities that could be put into good use.”

 Peter’s heart started racing with the mixed sensation of excitement, fear, and wonder. Still, he managed to catch the SHIELD agent mumbling, “doesn’t mean I want to approve.”

 It was nothing more than a mere grumble, but Peter caught it and frowned at his remark, though it probably didn’t show on his mask. “Wait, so you are offering me but you don’t want me to accept?”

 “I don’t like you being in this business, that’s what I’m saying. This whole vigilante-ing and superhero-ing” Barton grumbled. “You’re too young for that matter.”

 Peter froze. His heart dropped immediately. He tried hard to look unaffected and casual as he crossed his arms. Still, he knew he was horribly failing when he rambled, “wha- ho- how do you know I'm young? You don’t know that.”

 Barton raised an eyebrow as he looked at him.

 “Believe me, I have a fairly good idea of who you are.”

 Peter gulped. His heart was racing once again but from fear and shock now. “H— How—?”

 “Really, did you think your little secret can go unnoticed forever?” Clint asked skeptically. “It’s really easy to connects the dots if you think about it.”

 With Peter being too shocked that he failed to provide an adequate answer for it, Barton continued to talk.

 “This supposed ‘Spider-Man’ just appeared out of nowhere right after a man named Ben Parker was killed by a mugger. This mysterious guy went around beating up street thugs and, according to the ones that he captured, checked their left wrists for some reason. Probably looking for the star tattoo, like the one that the killer had on his left wrist, right?”

 Barton briefly stopped and looked straight at Peter, as if he was expecting him to agree. Peter did not move or make a sound. Barton then just casually turned his eyes and looked at the empty space in front of him and went on again.

 “It would be illogical not to think that this guy had some relation to Ben Parker, since he was trying so desperately to find his killer. But he had no other family apart from his wife and a nephew from his brother, who died along with his wife a long time ago. His wife is rather weak and small to be the vigilante, but his nephew,” Barton stopped once again to glance at peter once more. “Has the physical features that can fit into Spiderman. Isn’t that right, Peter?”

 Peter swallowed hard as his brain went numb. He started to think of possible responses and reactions toward the speculation the had just made. He first thought of denying it casually, but considering that he had already so noticeably froze, it probably — and by probably, I mean definitely — wasn’t going to work. Still, the thought of confirming it also scared him, for he then knew for sure that SHIELD had all the information necessary to hunt him down anytime. Of course, they already had a good idea of who he is, so having those assumptions confirmed by him would not be that big of a deal.

 He was already exposed, and he knew that there was really no way to get out of this one.

 “Of course, that is just one of the possibilities. Well, the biggest possibility, really, but who knows? Maybe you are not Peter Parker but some other random guy.” Barton shrugged and said nonchalantly, even snorting a bit as he said the last part.

 Peter kept quiet. Even when he was saying in such manner, he could tell that he was actually believing that it was indeed Peter Parker under the suit.

 “Well, we have to know who you are if you are to join the team.” Barton added, still maintaining the casual facade. “If you are not going to join....... Well, I can say it’s not going to be pleasant for you or your family.”

 This was enough to bring Peter to his full alertness.

 “Are— are you threatening me?” His voice quivered.

 Barton was, yet again, very casual with his response.

 “Not exactly a ‘threat’, but I’m saying that you are going to be under surveillance anyway. Well, Peter Parker is going to be under surveillance, to be accurate.”

 Peter couldn’t find the words to say in return. His brain was overloaded with different emotions to even try to think straight. It was like having been lifted up so high then to fall endlessly into darkness. One moment, he had a surreal but exciting moment of thinking that he possibly could join the mighty Avengers, the greatest heroes, and then found himself being hit by the fear of having been exposed without him realizing.

 The lack of words must have been enough for Barton to recognize that Peter was frightened. He straightened his posture.

 “If it helps, I am so far the only one that know who you are,” said Barton.”Haven’t reported yet.”

 Peter snapped his head towards Barton. Okay, now he was definitely confused.

 “Wait, so you mean that SHIELD doesn’t know yet?”

 “I haven’t been able to report.” Barton answered. “Well, I did have the chances but I just didn’t. Yet. I had to make sure that I had the correct information before I do that. But you are unknown to SHIELD only because I’m the one who got the assignment. If I fail to report soon, someone else will get on it, and you will be in our system, without you knowing.”

 Peter averted his eyes towards the sight of the city underneath them. He silently watched the lights of the city in under the night sky. Barton just eyed him for a brief moment before he added on.

 “I’ll give you one day to think about it. Meet me here at this time tomorrow.”

 Barton started towards the stairs. Peter didn’t move at all for a few seconds before he spoke out.

 “Do I really have a choice?”

 Barton turned around and faced Peter. He shook his head casually.

 “Not really, no. You can refuse, officially. If you do, I won’t report your personal information. But it’s not going to be permanent, and you will end up on our radar at some point anyways. You won’t get any legal or technical support that you could get as a member of Avengers. But you are going to be treated in the exact opposite way -- treated as a threat and persecuted. So frankly, I don’t think you have a choice.”

 Barton turned around and left the site, leaving Peter to just stare at his retreating figure.

 Peter sighed and got up from his seat, stretched his body and walked out of the room and down to the kitchen. It was already pretty late, around 3 in the morning, and he thought his aunt would be fast asleep by now. He intended to quietly sneak into the kitchen to get some water and go back up. So he was quite surprised by the dim light coming from the said space when he went down.

 As it turned out, his prediction was correct: Aunt May was sleeping, although not in a way he thought she would be. May was fast asleep on the kitchen table, with a couple of books open around her. Peter froze at the sight for a brief moment before walking towards her.

 “Aunt May?”

 Peter softly called out, unsure if he should wake her or not. He could see that she must have been dead tired to fall asleep in such uncomfortable position. He knew that she should be sleeping on her bed where she could relax her body, but also did not want to wake her from her slumber. He tried once again only to receive no response.

 So he decided to gently reach out and pick her up from the chair. From all he knew, Aunt May was never a heavy sleeper and woke up easily by any kind of noise or touch. Yet, she was just limp in his arms when he lifted her. That was when he realized for the first time how small and light his aunt was. She was ever so skinny, but he never thought she was so fragile.

 Being as subtle and soundless as possible, he headed to her bedroom. When he finally laid her on the now-oversized-bed(due to the absence of Uncle Ben), he finally got to see the face of his aunt more clearly. Fatigue emanated from her whole body, and there were so many traces of exhaustion on her face. Peter ruefully studied her features for a moment in silence before he slowly covered her with the quilt.

 It had been hard for the both of them since Uncle Ben’s death. Now that Peter thought about it, he was so distracted by his own problems -- mostly about his vigilante business -- that he had actually did not consider what kind of situation his aunt was in. It was hard for Peter to get through his situation, of course. He was struggling to put his newly gained power into a good use, and had to face the lizard monster out to destroy the city. He was using all the time other than schoolwork and sleeping to get out on the street and fight crimes, and was too busy -- or he thought he was -- to think about Aunt May’s struggle. Maybe he was just avoiding to acknowledge it subconsciously, out of guilt that he was the one who cause everything in the first place.

 Yet, it was too true and was now right before his eyes. Aunt May was now supporting both of them financially. It was hard enough when they had income from both Uncle Ben and Aunt May -- it wasn’t like they were hungering or anything, but they had to often face monetary problems. Now that it was only Aunt May earning money for them, and Peter was just too used to not working (per boty May’s and Ben’s suggestion, for they wanted him to focus on his studies more) that he just completely forgot about it.

 Peter cursed at himself inwardly. How could he have not seen this earlier? There he was, trying to be a hero to other people when his own family was suffering from his ignorance and egotistical actions. Being Spider-Man was important for him, of course, since it was his power to help people, and an obligation he had set upon himself. But it did not mean that he could just ignore and forsake his personal problems and his responsibility for his own family.

 He sighed softly and turned around to step out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him. He headed back to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He downed the whole cup at once and shook his head, as if to clear his mind. He drank another cup of water before putting the cup in the sink and turning around to get back upstairs to his room. As he passed the kitchen table, his eyes once again caught the sight of the books that Aunt May had been reading. He stopped for a brief second and stared at it. His eyes glinted briefly, with his face hardening. He then climbed upstairs.

 Once he was back in his room, he picked up the card once again. He looked down at it for a few moments before he reached for his phone.

 “SHIELD?” Gwen almost shrieked in shock, but managed to keep her voice down. She eyed several passing students as if to check if anyone heard her. When there was seemingly nobody paying attention to the two, she continued. “ The SHIELD, for real?”

 It was during lunch when Peter found Gwen and told her about the whole job offer.

 Peter nodded. Gwen’s mouth fell open.

 “Wow,” said Gwen. “That’s-- That’s big.”

 “It…. It is something.” Peter shrugged, sighing.

 “You don’t look that happy about it,” Gwen pointed out. “You said you took it, right?”

 Peter nodded.

 “Then why are you still so unsure?”

 “Well….” Peter slowly began after a short sigh. “For one thing, it’s a regular job, meaning less time for swinging.”

 Gwen shrugged in agreement. Peter continued.

 “And... this is SHIELD we’re talking about. I’m kinda… intimidated.”

 Gwen frowned, clearly in confusion. “That they are big international organization?”

 “That they are capable of anything,” replied Peter. “Including keeping track of me all the time.”

 Gwen’s eyes widened, and she lowered her body, drawing closer to Peter.

 “Did they find out who you are?”

 Peter scratched the back of his head as he let out a sigh. “Yes… no…. It’s complicated.”

 “You gotta be more clear with me, Peter.”

 “It’s just that….” Peter hesitated, “it seemed like they didn’t know when they offered me the job. But then some guy came up to me while I was doing my thing, claiming that he is from SHIElD and already knew who I was.”

 “How--” Gwen exclaimed in shock. “Does this mean you’re exposed?”

 “I don’t think so…?” Peter replied unsurely. “He said that he didn’t report it back yet, so….”

 “Are you even sure if this guy’s really from SHIELD?” Gwen questioned. “I mean, he could be impersonating SHIELD just to get to you. What did he want?”

 Peter glimpsed around. Making sure that there was nobody close enough to hear their conversation, he lowered his body forward and whispered.

 “He-- he asked me to join the Avengers,”

 “The AV--,” Gwen almost yelled in surprise before she managed to stop herself. “Avengers?”

 “I know,” Peter said, sighing. “I don’t know why they want me either.”

 “Uh, because you saved the city?” Gwen retorted, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You were all over the news and all that. No wonder they noticed you.”

 “But I’m not like them,” said Peter. “They’re like, major heroes. Me, I don’t even know what I’m doing half the time.”

 “Peter, you’re changing the world,” said Gwen with a smile. “You’re making this city safe, where there are guns and knives pointing at you every dark corner of the street.”

 Peter shrugged, embarrassed.

 “So? That’s it? He just said to join the Avengers?” Gwen asked.

 “That’s… That’s pretty much all he said, yeah,” replied Peter. Practically forcing me.

 “So?”

 “So what?”

 “What’s your answer?” said Gwen. “What did you say?”

 “I, uh, I didn’t.”

 Gwen raised her eyebrows at him, clearly surprised. “‘Didn’t’ as in you didn’t join?”

 “As in I didn’t give an answer yet,” Peter replied. “I’m supposed to meet the guy tonight.”

 “Okay, so you’re gonna say yes, right?” Gwen said. Peter, however, sighed and shrugged his shoulders.

 “I don’t know. Probably?”

 Gwen frowned at him.

 “I thought you would be excited about it.”

 Peter played around with his fingers.

 “I don’t know,” he said. “Honestly, it feels too surreal to feel anything.”

 Gwen nodded in understanding.

 “I mean,” Peter continued, “yeah, I’m excited. To think that I’m officially a part of the band of superheroes? That’s mind-blowing.Then it also means I’m going to be registered, right? Into their system or whatever? I’m quite not sure how I feel about it.”

 “Right,” Gwen said, nodding. She fell silent for a moment before looking straight into his eyes, smiling. “Well, whatever you do, what’s important is that you do what you think is good and helpful for you. You know that, right?”

 Peter formed a quick smile and nodded. Then Gwen put on a mischievous face.

 “Alright, but if you do get in, you have to let me meet Captain America.”

 The day passed quite quickly, and Peter was now in his suit, swinging through the tall buildings of New York City. It was a bit earlier than the scheduled time, but Peter was heading to the spot anyways. His mind was too distracted to do otherwise, and thankfully the streets were clear from troubles.

 When he swiftly landed on the top of the building, he could make out two figures standing on the edge of the other side. They were both facing the other side, with their backs on Peter’s position. He recognized Barton, but the one next to him, he didn’t know. Peter tensed as he was hit by a sudden bolt of fear and panic -- had Barton already told SHIELD about him? He stood there and eyed the two, unsure of what to do at the very unexpected turn of event.

 “I saw you coming, come on.”

 At Barton’s voice, Peter couldn’t help flinching. He slowly approached the two men. Baton and the stranger turned around.

 “The Spider-Man.” The other guy said. He looked at Peter straight with his one eye -- he had an eye patch over his left one. He had a very strong aura of presence and power that Peter couldn’t help feeling a bit intimidated by the guy. He silently took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and appear unaffected and casual as possible.

 “In the flesh,” he retorted in what he thought was a very casual and confident voice. He then looked at Barton. “I didn’t know we would have company.”

 Barton just shrugged. The stranger looked rather amused.

 “Nick Fury,” he said. “Director of SHIELD.”

 Peter was surprised at the revelation, and was grateful that his expression was hidden completely behind the mask. When Peter didn't say anything, Nick Fury continued.

 “I believe you are already told about the offer?”

 “Well, it sounded more like a threat to me, to be honest,” replied Peter.

 “More like a strong suggestion,” Fury retorted. “Take it as what you want to, but that was what we thought would be the best course for both of us.”

 Peter shrugged. “Well, if anything, he definitely did make it sound like it.”

 “So your answer is?” Fury asked.

 Peter took a moment to make up his mind. He had already decided on his answer, but that did not mean that he had all his doubts cleared from his mind. After taking a few moments to firmly hold his stance, he cleared his throat.

 “I’m in,” he said finally. “But I need one thing in return.”

Chapter Text

 The doors to the elevator opened, attracting everyone’s attention. Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Clint were all gathered, sitting on the couches. Their heads instantly turned towards the now-entering Tony Stark, who was taking off his color-lensed glasses and walked over to join the team in the room.

 “And here I was, thinking that I would be the king of the party,” Tony said with his theatrical tone. When he earned questioning looks from the others, he shrugged and answered, “From what I heard, the true hero always turns up the last.”

 He dropped down on one of the empty armchairs. It was only a few seconds after he had taken his seat when the elevator doors opened once again and spat out Nick Fury.

 “It’s official. Mr. Director here craves for the spotlight. He just has to be the hero,” Tony said out loud, seemingly wanting to taunt the director of SHIELD. Fury, however -- and as much as expected -- totally seemed unaffected.

 “I don’t know about me being a hero, but the matter I brought here today certainly requires your attention,” Fury remarked.

 “Oh, it better be good enough to have me fly all the way across the country for,” Tony said, although with no actual ill will.

 Fury responded by handing him a pad. Tony looked at the screen briefly before he frowned and looked up at Fury for a short moment. Neither of the two men said anything as Tony busily moved his fingers and had the contents of the device shown in holographic images around the people in the room.

 There was an image of a teenage boy, with brown hair and brown eyes. Next to the picture was the basic personal profile of him, which told that he was a 17-year-old boy named Peter Parker and that he went to Midtown Science High School in Queens, New York. There were also several images, video clips, and a number of articles and news footages of a person in a red-and-blue spandex suit either stopping a robbery, saving people in car accidents, or climbing up the outside of Oscorp Tower.

 There was a good minute of silence as all of the Avengers took in the information before their eyes. Their faces were laced with confusion -- well, everyone’s except Clint’s.

 “Don’t tell me that that is….” Banner slowly started as he turned his gaze to Fury, who just slightly nodded, confirming his suspicion.

 “This is Spider-Man. He has been active for nearly a month now,” Fury began to explain. “He was nothing more than a street-level vigilante until-” he nodded his head towards one of the news clips about a giant lizard.

 “So that man in the red suit is just a high school kid? Is that what you are saying?” Steve asked in a serious tone. “Is he of importance to us?”

 “He is a part of Avengers now,” Fury answered.

 Steve’s head whipped towards the director, but it was Tony who shouted out, “What?”

 “But……. He is just a kid,” Bruce stuttered out. “He’s what, 16? 17? And you’re letting him in this?”

 Fury was still calm as he looked at the whole team. “It is because he is young that I want him supervised. He has been doing this on his own, meaning that he will try and continue regardless of what you or I want.”

 Everyone seemed eager to refute, yet were unable to do so.

 “He also has the capabilities and power that can be either helpful or dangerous. He needs proper training.”

 “He is a boy,” Steve said sternly. “He’s too young for this. You should be stopping him, not encouraging him.”

 “A boy with abilities,” Fury replied. “We need all the power we can afford.”

 “You sound like you are talking about a weapon,” Bruce said in his usual depressed tone, with a hint of resentment in it. “Is that what he is to you? What we are?”

 “I can’t help thinking the same thing as the doctor,” Steve added on. “We are not at war.”

 “Are we not?” Fury answered in an almost snapping manner. “After what happened in New York just five months ago, can you really say that?”

 Steve closed his mouth tightly but his eyes softened a little, probably in understanding. THe others in the room fell into silence as well. Fury then continued to talk.

 “He is not officially registered to SHIELD, just as a part of the Avengers initiative. It was per his request and due to safety measures. He is officially recruited as an Avenger, but his identity and specifics remain covert.”

 “Does that mean he is not in SHIELD system?” Steve asked, to which Fury nodded.

 “Not yet, at least.”

 “So you want us to babysit a kid now?” Tony asked with his usual sass. “That’s our next mission?”

 “You don’t need to do anything in particular about Spider-Man,” Fury answered.

 “I hear a ‘but’ coming.” Tony retorted.

 “I need your assistance, Stark.”

 “Sure, ‘cause everybody needs something from me,” Tony replied in a sarcastic yet casual voice. Of course, Fury just ignored it.

 “Peter Parker needs to be kept under protection. I want him to work somewhere close to you.”

 “You mean protection or ‘protection’?”

 “Protection as in making sure that he and his brain is out of reach from potential danger.”

 “His brains?” Bruce asked. “What do you mean his brains out of potential danger?”

 Fury eyed Natasha, who had been staring at the profile image of Peter Parker, her expression unreadable.

“He is the one that created the Lizard,” she quietly explained. “Dr. Connors did not have any result in his studies of his formula until Peter Parker was involved in the research.”

 “He was asked a position within SHIELD research lab,” Fury added. “He accepted it.”

 “Then what does it have to do with me?” asked Tony.

 “He is too young to be working in SHIELD right now as we don’t typically have any internship programs,” Fury answered. “And there are certain… risks in taking him directly into SHIELD.”

 Steve and Tony both turned their heads with questioning looks toward the director, who had a very usually stern and emotionless face that clearly told them they would not get an answer. Tony asked him suspiciously.

 “So what, you want me to give him a job here? Just like that?”

 “I would like you to keep an eye on him, yes,” said Fury.

 “Biology is not exactly the focus of our company,” Tony remarked as if to challenge Fury and his decision.

 Fury, for some reason, seemed to be rather amused.

 “I have a fair reason to believe that you will like the boy”

 Tony raised his eyebrows just before his AI spoke up.

 “Sir, there is a SHIELD agent requesting to enter the building.”

 Tony looked at Fury with questioning eyes. Fury did not change his expression nor his posture.

 “He’s here.” Natasha quietly confirmed.

 “Who’s here?” Steve directed his question towards her.

 “The boy.” It was Tony that provided the answer. He then told the AI to bring them up.

 A few seconds later, the elevator opened once more and a female agent came out, followed by a very nervous-looking teenager. He looked around the room full of famous heroes and froze.

 “Wow.” He managed to whimper out.

 Fury nodded to the agent, who gave him a short courtesy nod before turning around and walked back into the elevator to disappear. The room was filled with an awkward silence as the people just stared at one another; well, it was mostly staring at the boy.

 “Well,” Tony began with a clap. “This is awkward.”

 He then moved towards the boy and held out a hand.

 “Tony. Tony Stark.”

 The shocked teen looked down at the offered hand with an open mouth before. It took a couple of seconds for him to break out of his state and hold the man’s hand.

 “Y- yeah, I know.” His voice shook as he spoke, or more accurately, choked out.

 Tony raised an eyebrow and added, “and you are…?”

 “Oh! Oh, I’m… I’m Peter. Uh, Peter Parker.” The boy blurted out.

 Tony quirked his brows shortly and patted him once on the shoulder.

 “So, I heard you are the one inside the red-and-blue?”

 “Uh……. Yeah, yeah, I guess….” Peter said sheepishly. “I- I mean, I am.”

 “Okay then. Welcome to the team.” Tony said cheerfully, raising both his arms. He then pointed to each member as he introduced them. “This is Bruce Banner, that’s Clint, there’s Natasha, and that right there is Steve Rogers. Captain America himself.”

 Peter’s nervous eyes followed Tony’s hand and offered each of them an awkward and shaky smile, along with a small “Hey.” When Tony was done with the names, he started to ramble on.

 “Yeah, I know him, of course. I- I mean, I’m a… I’m a big fan. Like a huge fan. And Dr. Banner is like… like a role model, a mentor. Well, I haven’t met him -- well not until now -- so he’s not really my mentor but it’s just that all his works are so amazing, with all the gamma rays and radiation stuff he’s done so…. A-and also Mr. Clint, too. He, uh, he’s…. He’s the one that found me, so….”

 At that, Steve’s stern expression melted into a smile. He approached the poor boy to offer him a handshake.

 “Steve Rogers. Nice to meet you, Peter.”

 Peter gulped and took the hand to give one hesitant shake.

 “Yeah, uh……. I mean, it’s nice to meet you, too, Captain.”

 “Steve.” Steve corrected with a warm smile. Peter tried to smile back at him in return but wasn’t sure if he actually was doing so.

 There was a bit of a rather awkward silence before Natasha and Clint walked up to them. Steve let go of Peter’s hand and backed up a little to give her some space.

 “Well,” Clint said, clearing his throat. “I guess this is it. Welcome to the team, Peter.”

 Clint stretched his hand for Peter to shake. He was smiling, which Peter was quite surprised to see.

 “Uhm,” he said as he hesitantly grabbed the offered hand. “Thanks, Mr. Clint.”

 “Just Clint,” the said agent corrected. “I know I scared you a little back there, Pete. I gotta say, I didn’t do it on purpose. I hope you don’t take it personally or get offended.”

 “Oh, sure,” replied Peter. He was still finding it a bit weird and unfamiliar to see him smiling this… mischievously?

 “In my defense, I was just worried about you,” Clint said nonchalantly, “I still think you’re too young to be doing this shit,” -- Steve immediately warned him (“Barton.”) and Tony gasped dramatically (“We have a minor here, geez!”) -- “but I know you’re skilled and you are doing a good thing. Glad that at least we can officially help you now.”

 “Thank you,” Peter answered. Then it was Natasha’s turn.

 “Nice to see you again, Mr. Parker,” she said.

 “Yeah, me too,” Peter replied. “I didn’t know you were in Avengers, too.”

 “I was kept a secret,” Natasha said. “I’m not only part of this band of idiots, but a SHIELD agent with personal missions. So I would be grateful if you also didn’t go telling someone, or I would have no choice other than to eliminate you and others around you.”

 “Uh,” Peter answered nervously. “Sure thing, Agent Ro-- Romanov, right? Agent Romanov?”

 “Natasha,” Natasha replied, amusement clear on her face. “And I was joking.”

 Peter laughed out nervously.

 “Or not,” Natasha said, her smile widening a bit more.

 Peter kept the shaky smile on his face but gulped. That was when Tony decided to step in.

 “Alright, stop teasing the poor kid,” he said casually. “So, you’re gonna work here, right?”

 “Uhm…” said Peter. “Yeah, that’s what I heard…?”

 “Great,” Tony said with a smile. He then added, in a very casual and lighthearted way, “If you take any of our secrets and technologies outside and sell it to other companies, I will hunt you down.”

 “Tony,” Steve quietly warned with a smile. Peter was just blinking, trying to decide how to react to it.

 “Just making a few things clear,” Tony said nonchalantly. He then came to Peter and wrapped one arm around him. Peter could not help but flinch at the sudden contact.

 “Relax,” Tony said, noticing how stressful the boy’s body was. “I was kidding. I’m not going to hurt you. Well, I might sue you if you actually did sell our tech, but I would never hurt you physically. I mean, I’m a superhero, right?”

 Peter nodded with a shaky chuckle. He didn’t see the way the rest of the people shook their heads in defeat. Tony just continued.

 “So what’s your specialty? I heard you’re good with science and tech in general, but I want to know where your heart is in.”

 Peter, although not much, relaxed at least a little bit.

 “Uhm, I’m into physics and chemistry,” he answered. “And a bit of mechanics, too. But anything scientific in general, I guess.”

 “Right. I think I heard you mention Banner’s work too?” said Tony. Bruce stepped forward at the mention of his name. Peter smiled sheepishly.

 “Yeah, I… I read his papers and stuff.”

 “You read those papers?” Bruce asked in disbelief. Peter nodded.

 “They were brilliant!” He replied. “Well, of course, I had to do some extra research to understand all the necessary concepts, but still I thought those were remarkable.”

 Bruce gaped at him. Peter looked back at him for a brief moment before he quickly added, “Oh, I’m not trying to judge or critique your work or anything, sir. I mean-- I just--”

 “Hey, hey,” Bruce said, stretching his arms forward to calm the teenager down. “I know you’re not. Relax, okay?”

 Peter nodded. Bruce smiled at him.

 “I’m just really surprised that you even read on such complex topic,” he added.

 “Congratulations!” Tony chimed in. “You got your boss’ approval!”

 Peter looked at him, puzzled. Tony, seeing the boy’s face, continued.

 “Oh, right, you wouldn’t know yet. You know I’m living in Malibu, not here?”

 Peter nodded, “Uh huh.”

 “So I’m not here most of the times. And all the other interns work with other employees here in the Stark Tower, but you’re not a part of the regular Stark Internship -- you’re official/unofficial SHIELD intern, and we need to keep you close. That’s why Dr. Banner here,” Tony gestured his hand toward the said man, “would be supervising you and your work.”

 Peter gaped at him. “Oh.”

 “I am?” Bruce asked. Clearly he was not informed.

 “Of course you are,” Tony said. “I’m not here all the time, and somebody’s gotta supervise him.”

 “But what am I supposed to--”

 “You have some things you’re working on, right?” Tony said. “Just do your thing with Parker here. He says he read your works. I’m sure you can figure something out.”

 “Oh,” Bruce said uncertainly. “Sure….”

 “Now,” Tony said with a light pat on his shoulder. “I know you’re disappointed that you don’t get to work with me, but I’ll be dropping by from time to time, so no worries for that.”

 “No, no, no,” Peter replied hastily. “I’m not-- I’m not disappointed. I just… I didn’t know I’ll be working directly with Dr. Banner. Wait, so I am working with Dr. Banner, right?”

 “Of course. You just heard it yourself,” Tony answered without any sign of hesitation.

 He looked at Bruce with nervousness and excitement on his face. “It, it’s a great honor, Doctor Banner.”

 Bruce looked at him blankly for a moment -- which scared Peter of the possibility that he might refuse to work with him -- before he nervously smiled. “I-- uh, the honor’s mine, Mr. Parker. Or Peter? Shall I call you Peter?”

 “Oh, sure.”

 “Then I’ll call you Peter. And call me Bruce,” Bruce said. “Um, so…. Can you tell me what your exact level of comprehension in physics?”

 “Hold on a sec,” Tony said brightly. “Why don’t we talk it over some food? It’s dinnertime already. Who’s up for Pizza? It’s on me.”

 If Peter was told just a week before that he would be personally meeting the Avengers, have dinner with them, talking about what toppings are the best for a good pizza or about all the hidden hacks and cheats in Mario games, he would have never believed it. There was no way he could have accepted a claim that Avengers were no different from ordinary people who talk about silly soap operas, have food fights, and bet on sports games.

 And that was exactly what was happening before his eyes.

 “Wait, so you seriously didn’t know about those extra lives you could get?” Peter asked with his mouth still full of his 5th slice of pizza.

 “Well, nobody told me!” Clint argued. “How could I know if no one bothered to tell me.”

 “Seriously?” Steve added. “And I thought I was slow with games.”

 “Don’t pretend that you’ve known, Cap,” Clint grunted. “I know you didn’t know either.”

 Steve shrugged. “I found it by chance.”

 And the conversation went on until the sun was completely set. By then, Peter was quite comfortable around the team. He was still nervous, of course, but doing much better compared to when he first stepped into the room. He was so immersed into the nonsensical talk about pretty much anything and everything that he did not realize how late it had become for Aunt May to notice Peter’s absence.

 “Shit!” Peter exclaimed as he pulled out his vibrating phone. He hastily answered it. “Hello?”

 “See?” Clint yelled triumphantly, specifically addressing to Steve. “Kids these days. They have language problems enough on their own. No need to watch my choices of words.”

 “Doesn’t mean they we shouldn’t,” Steve countered. “We should never be encouraging them.”

 Then they fell into silence so as not to interrupt the teen’s phone call.

 “I’m sorry, Aunt May,” said Peter. He stood up while keeping his phone at his ear, picking up his backpack. “Yeah. Yeah. got it. I’m leaving right now. It won’t take long. Uh huh. Milk and eggs. Got it.”

 As he got off the phone, he turned to the team, who were already nodding in understanding.

 “I, uh-- I have to go,” he said. “It’s a school night, and my aunt is starting to worry.”

 “Of course,” said Steve, smiling. The rest of the members all rose from their seats as well.

 “Sure. I have to be on my way, too,” Tony added. He patted Peter once on the shoulder.

 “Nice meeting you,” said Bruce. “I look forward to working with you.”

 “Nice meeting you, too,” Peter replied, smiling at each and every one of the heroes. “All of you.”

 Steve smiled and led Peter to the elevator. The others followed the two.

 “Oh,” Peter quickly said. “You guys… don't have to. I can go on my own.”

 “It’s no problem,” Natasha said warmly.

 “Yeah, it's not like we're escorting you all the way down or anything,” added Clint.

 “We can if you want to,” Steve said.

 “Oh, no, thank you,” replied Peter. “I'm good.”

 And they all waited for a short moment in front of the elevator until it opened. Peter stepped in and faced the Avengers.

 “Thank you,” he said. “For everything.”

 Steve smiled. “No problem.”

 “See you around, kid,” Tony said. Bruce and Natasha smiled while Clint waved lightheartedly.

 “Bye,” Peter said shyly.

 And the doors closed.

Chapter Text

  Tony Stark is presumed dead.

  Oh, okay.

  ….

  Wait, what?

  Peter’s tired eyes snapped open as the words sank into his brains. His hand that was holding a milk carton stopped mid-air as he froze. He snapped his head toward the small television. 

  “With the continuing national threats from the terrorist Mandarin, people’s fear is rising as the billionaire and owner of Stark Industries Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, is believed to have passed away in the attack on his mansion yesterday.”

  Then came the video of a large mansion on a cliff by the sea and a missile approaching it.

  “Yesterday afternoon, Tony Stark’s mansion in Malibu was attacked by a missile. Just a day before it happened, he had issued a threat against the Mandarin. Multiple shots were fired from three unidentified helicopters and the building soon collapsed, falling off the cliff and into the water. It has been reported that the current CEO Pepper Potts was present at the scene along with a botanist Maya Hansen, who seemingly have survived the attack while Tony Stark was nowhere to be found. It seems that he had fallen into the water along with the debris, and the chance that he survived the fall is thought to be very slim.”

  Damn it, Tony.

  It was all over the social media on the previous day. Everyone talked about how Tony Stark had very openly and directly threatened a freaking terrorist and announced his home address worldwide. Videos from the news report were all over the internet as well as some raw clips from the actual site.

  Peter could actually see the fury emanating from the man as he walked out of the building and was soon surrounded by a swarm of journalists. All of them just started to pour different questions, begging for the billionaire’s attention as the said man just kept silent as he walked through them.

  “Hey, Mr. Stark! When is someone gonna kill this guy?”

  A very obnoxious voice said off the screen. Someone was obviously trolling.

  Tony stopped still and turned around. The camera followed his line of sight and took a shot of a man holding out what seemed to be his phone.

  “Just saying,” he added, quite nonchalantly. Tony just looked at him, his eyes and emotion hidden behind the shades of his sunglasses.

  Dude, seriously? He did not just ask that to freakin’ Iron Man.

  “Is that what you want?” Tony said. 

  There was a pause as he just looked at the man’s direction. All of the reporters waited in silence as they anticipated for his words.

  “Here’s a little holiday greeting,” Tony began to say loudly, as if he was announcing something, “I’ve been wanting to send to the Mandarin. I didn’t know how to phrase it until now.”

  Another pause. All the people at the scene looked at Tony, waiting for him to continue. Even Peter held his breath with a beating heart. 

  “My name is Tony Stark and I’m not afraid of you,” he proclaimed. “I know you’re a coward. So I’ve decided,” he took off his sunglasses, “that you just died, pal. I’m gonna come get the body.”

  Peter swallowed hard. He had never seen Tony this furious. There was never a moment that Tony Stark, even as himself and not as the superhero, was this openly angry.

  “There’s no politics here, it’s just good old-fashioned revenge,” he heard the man continue. “There’s no Pentagon, it’s just you and me.”

  Peter didn’t even blink as he watched on. He couldn’t blink.

  “And on the off-chance you’re a man, here’s my home address.”

  Shit, Tony.

  “10880, Malibu Point, 90265. I’ll leave the door unlocked.”

  Then Tony said something to the guy holding his phone, which was inaudible due to the muted sound and the anchor talking, but Peter could see Tony grabbing the phone and throwing it, which smashed against one of the pillars of the building. He then added a short phrase before getting into his car and driving out of their sight. 

  And Peter wondered if the man was truly a genius or an idiot. Maybe both. Sometimes one of the two sides was just across a single line from the other. Well, yeah, he was freaking Iron Man, but that cannot mean that just giving away his address to his enemy while he doesn’t know where they are is a wise move. Then again, this was Tony Stark, and the man was a superhero. Peter was quite sure that there was no way that Tony would really be completely defenseless, just sitting around without any plan until the Mandarin came barging in his house and kill him off, especially when he would so willingly taunt and dare the other guy to come.

  So as much as he prayed that Tony would be okay, he tried his best to brush off the concern and concentrate on his daily patrol.

  Yup, there was no way that Tony Stark would go down so easily. That was probably just a part of his tactic.

  Was he wrong about the man? Or was the Mandarin such a powerful force?

  Understandably, this was what everyone talked about for the whole day. Everywhere he went, Peter heard someone talking about the issue in one way or another. Students were busy speculating on what had happened and whether the famous billionaire was still alive or not. News channels discussed the possibility of his survival, what the Mandarin’s next move could be, and how the event would be affecting the Avengers.

  Speaking of Avengers, there was no doubt that it had a big impact on the said team of heroes, and possibly on SHIELD as well. So Peter wasn’t surprised when he stepped into the Stark tower as usual for his work and walked into an unexpected Avengers meeting. Just as Peter stepped out of the elevator and into the common room for the members, Clint and Steve stopped their conversation and looked at the teenager. Bruce had his head in his hands, massaging his eyes.

  “Peter,” Steve greeted.

  “Hey, kid,” Clint also said, nodding his head in greeting.

  “I guess we’re taking the day off, then?” Peter joked, without the actual humor in his tone.

  “Well, I don’t think any of us can really concentrate right now,” Bruce added.

  Peter silently agreed as he walked over to the team and took a seat in one of the empty spots, putting down his backpack.

  “Like I was saying,” said Clint, “if Stark did not survive, then it changes everything.”

  Steve didn’t say anything as he just gazed forward.

  “Without Stark, we wouldn't have any basis to exist,” Clint continued.

  “What do you mean?” Peter asked.

  Bruce looked at Steve, who bit his lips. Peter looked at the three men back and forth. Clint was the one to explain.

  “Avengers is, in official terms, not supposed to exist anymore. Fury wanted the team to go on, but to SHIELD it was only a one-off thing. Tony agreed that the team has to go on and was providing all the necessary resources for it. On records, each of us is still under SHIELD, but the Avengers as a team is over. So now that--” Clint paused for a moment, probably trying to find a way to make what he was about to say sound less grave. “Now that we don’t know what happened to him, we have to consider the possibility.”

  “Of breaking up the team?” asked Peter.

  The lack of response was what Peter needed to understand what they were saying. 

  “But we don’t know yet,” he said. “It’s like they said. There was no sign of him. No body found.”

  “Which could mean anything,” replied Clint. “He fell into the ocean. No body means he may have survived, but it also means that his body was lost in the water.”

  “What the hell was he thinking?” Steve sighed, shaking his head. “I thought he was smart.”

  “Yeah, well, he always was both a genius and a dumbass at the same time,” Clint mumbled with a humorless snort.

  “So what, we’re just gonna give up on him?” Peter asked in disbelief.

  “No, we are not,” Clint said. “But that doesn’t mean we can really act upon it, either. Not directly, at least.”

  “And this is not the only problem,” Steve interjected. “What are we to do about this Mandarin? He’s a national terrorist. Tony threatens him, and his whole house is destroyed just a few hours later. We don’t know what he’ll do next, or where he is currently.”

  “Then we need the Avengers more than ever,” Peter said.

  “I agree with you, kid,” Clint replied. “And I’m not saying that we as a team should or are going to split.”

  “But if Tony is indeed gone, the least bit of official ground that he has been providing us with is gone, too, and it’s likely that we would lose the authority and legitimacy to act,” Bruce said for the first time, at least since Peter had arrived. “Agent Romanov is on her mission right now, and Captain is also on duty. Barton is not free from the SHIELD operations, either.”

  “And you, Peter,” Clint added, “are not even properly registered into the SHIELD system yet. And Tony and the Avengers were the last protection you could have from them. I don’t know why Fury decided not to put you up into SHIELD, but if this whole thing is gone, you will eventually have to be known to them.”

  Peter gaped at him. “So what, we can’t stop the Mandarin, and we can’t go find Tony? What can we do?”

  “Just wait, for now,” Bruce said, rubbing his face with both his palms.

  “We don’t know anything for sure yet,” Steve said, nodding. “We don’t know if Stark is really gone, we don’t know if the team is over.”

  “But at least we will do something about the Mandarin guy,” Clint said. “This is a matter of national security. There’s no way even those stuck-ups in the government can ignore that.”

  “That means we’ll get to move only when it becomes an official mission,” Peter stated.

  “That’s the official order from Fury,” Clint answered. Peter looked at him. Then it meant that Clint had something more to tell.

  “And what is the unofficial one?” Bruce asked. 

  “Right now?” Clint answered. “Stand by. Captain’s still not done with his current mission. Natasha’s not back yet from her mission, either.”

  Peter was not sure if he wanted to follow it and stay put, but he knew very well that he couldn’t really do otherwise. And judging by the stern faces of the others, he could assume that they were not really content with the situation, either.

  Fortunately, though, one good news hit them quite soon.

  "Dude! You heard? Iron Man's back."

  Peter forgot what he was doing at the moment and snapped his head toward the far corner of the hallway, a few feet away from him. His enhanced hearing had picked up some of the students talking among themselves above the many noises that filled the crowded hallway. He reached deep into his locker and pulled out his cellphone. While he looked into his contacts list to find anyone he might be able to reach, he kept his ears on the conversation for more information.

  "Fuck yeah! I knew he wasn't dead."

  "Yeah, I heard about that, too. No way that guy would just die like that."

  Clint and Steve would be busy with whatever missions that the SHIELD would have given them. Natasha was not even in the country at the moment, from what he had heard (and she still kind of intimidated him to contact her privately). That left him with Bruce.

  Peter selected Bruce's number and quickly typed in his message.

   Did you hear about Tony?

  He knew that it would probably take some time for Bruce to check his message, considering how he was usually so immersed in his work. So he didn't expect to hear back from him so soon as he slipped the device into the pocket of his jeans and made his way toward his math classroom. He wanted to know right away when he did get a reply back.

  To his surprise, it came rather quickly. His phone buzzed against his leg just before he was a foot or two away from the classroom. Peter took no time in pulling it out.

   Yes. SHIELD and Stark Industries both believe that he is alive. 

  Relief rushed over and filled him. His heart that had been beating from a sense of hope was now racing with joy. 

  "Peter!"

  He whipped his head around and found Gwen almost jogging toward him.

  "I heard the news," she said. "They said Tony Stark's alive?"

  Peter nodded.

  Gwen smiled as she let out a sigh of relief.

  "That's so great to hear," she said. "I know you were worried about him."

  "Yeah," Peter admitted. "I mean, who wasn't? Everyone would have "

  The two of them entered the room together.

  "Well, probably not as much as you," Gwen answered. "He's a superhero. As much as people worried, a lot of them would have thought that he won't perish that easily. But you actually met him and have a personal connection to him now. That makes it a little different, doesn't it?"

  Peter gave a soft chuckle. Despite his effort to stay calm during the whole situation, she clearly had seen through him.

  "Do you always have to be right all the time?"

  Gwen gave a natural and confident smirk.

  "And I always tell you," she said, "that's why you're the second brightest."

  Peter laughed lightly. And he loved it that he could enjoy the moment with his greatest worry relieved from him.

  A week later, Peter walked into the laboratory floor of the Avengers Tower as usual and heard a familiar voice. It was the voice that he once thought he wouldn't be able to hear again.

  "I had no idea you were such a good listener."

  It was coming from the lounge area that was located on the far end of the floor, where was used as a resting area for those who used the labs.

  Peter walked past the doors to the separate labs and headed straight to the lounge. 

    "To be able to share all my intimate thoughts and my experiences with someone -- it just cuts the weight of it in half, you know. It's like a snake swallowing its own tail. Everything comes to a full circle."

  Tony was saying in a calm, tranquil tone. Peter could assume that whatever he was talking about was something deep and serious. It slowed his steps to a stop and made him hesitate for a moment if he should interrupt the man.

  There was a soft thud.

  "And-- and the fact that you've been able to help me process--" 

  Tony's words trailed off and vanished, followed by a soft groan that Peter knew that didn't belong to him.

  "So, uh--"

  It was Bruce. The way he stuttered showed that he clearly wasn't listening to him. Peter suddenly had an idea that maybe whatever they were talking about wasn't as serious as Tony made it sound. Then again, Bruce and Steve may have mentioned how overly dramatic Tony can be sometimes (or more like 'all the time', according to Clint). So he decided to sneak up a little and find out what was going on.

  "You with me? 

  Tony sounded incredulous. 

  "I was, yeah," Bruce answered. "Mm-hmm. We were, uh, we were at... uh..."

  "You actively napping?" Tony deadpanned.

  Peter couldn't help the laugh that threatened to escape him. He managed to stifle it and keep quiet as he slowly walked up toward them.

  "I, I was..." Bruce sounded quite desperate, trying to make an excuse for what had been a one-way conversation. That was until he finally admitted, "I drifted."

  "Where did I lose you?"

  Peter was inches away from where the lounge began by then. He was finally able to see the situation. Around the corner, in the middle of the sitting area, there was what looked like a padded lounge chair -- the one that a patient would use when talking to a psychiatrist. Tony was sitting on it while Bruce was sitting on the couch next to it. Just one look at the sight, and Peter could roughly tell the story behind it: Tony had been clearly using Bruce as his own counselor.

  Before Bruce had a chance to answer Tony's question, Peter took a few steps forward. Tony's gaze flew over Bruce's shoulder and met Peter's eyes.

  "Parker," he said. It made Bruce whip his head around and look at Peter as well.

  "Peter," he greeted. There was a hint of gratitude as he looked at the teenager.

  Feeling quite amused, Peter approached the scene.

  "So... what, is this a private therapy session?" He said. "Should I leave you two alone?"

  Tony briefly looked at Bruce before he looked at Peter again and answered, "Well, my 'therapist' is rather terrible at his job."

  Bruce massaged his forehead.

  "I'm not," he said tiredly. "A therapist, I mean. I'm not that kind of doctor. It's not my training. I don't have--"

  "What, the time?" Tony replied.

  "Temperament," Bruce stated.

  Peter, in the meantime, quietly watched the interaction in fascination. Tony did what looked like a facepalm, seemingly thinking about something.

  "You know what," he said, looking up at where Peter was standing. "Join us here, Parker. I bet you're a much better listener."

  "Oh, uh..." Peter blinked at the turn of the event. Bruce was now looking at Peter too, and he was giving... a pleading look?

  At his hesitation, Tony raised an eyebrow.

  "You remember who writes your paycheck, right?" He said.

  "Uhm... sure?" Peter replied uncertainly. He put his school backpack on the floor and confusedly sat down on the empty seat next to Bruce.

   "So, can I go back to work now?" Bruce said. His tone was seeking for a sign of hope.

  However, Tony was cold.

  "No," he said, "you've done this to yourself when you were insensitive enough to doze off."

  Ignoring the disappointed look on Bruce's face, he then closed his eyes.

  "Now that I think about it," said Tony. "Oh, God, my original wound."

  Bruce also closed his eyes and shook his head in resignation. 

  "1983, right?" Tony continued.

  "Yes," Bruce answered with a mixture of a sigh.

  Peter just looked from one man to the other.

  "I was fourteen and I still had a nanny," Tony went on.

  Bruce threw his head back over the couch with a groan.

Chapter Text

  At first, they thought he was just intimidated. And they understood ― or at least, they tried their best to do so. They were already quite familiar with how people usually viewed them. Regardless of how much they would always emphasize the fact that they too were human beings that were in no way near being flawless, it was also true that they had experiences that not a lot of others on the entire planet would in their lifetime.

  People called them superheroes. They showed them respect, awe, and many times, gratitude. But among all the reactions, the one that they received the most was fear; fear of what they are capable of. Fear of the reality that they had shown the rest of the world. Most of the general public didn’t even realize that they held such emotion within them, but it showed in different signs and gestures.

  Thus, it wasn’t hard for the members of Avengers to think that Peter was having a hard time approaching them. After all, he was only a teenager and the only teenager to join the group. He had the least amount of experience in the world-saving business. Most importantly, he had just suddenly been thrown into a band of fully grown, full-time agents without being given a chance to really consider and make a full decision of his own will. He probably needed some time to figure everything out. And that was the reason the team wanted to give the boy some space to take his time and get used to everything.

  That was until Tony Stark moved to New York.

  After the Chitauri invasion in the city, Tony decided to devote his Stark Tower to the Avengers Initiative, turning the facility into the base of operation for the team. Still, he was residing on the other side of the country, which meant he was rarely in New York City in person. This also meant that Bruce Banner was the only one of the entire team to really interact with Peter since all the others were also occupied with their own missions and work. Bruce, being the quietest and an introverted scientist, was never the one to cross the line. If anything, he and Peter were like birds of a feather. The two of them could spend hours and hours sharing ideas and coming up with theories to prove but also work in silence and keep quiet about all the personal stories. For Peter, it was like the time when he worked with Doctor Connors ― well, before he turned into that giant lizard-thing.

  Tony, on the other hand, was basically the one to get on everyone’s nerves.

  “For the last time,” Peter said, trying to contain the exasperation that was surging within him for the sake of being polite. “I don’t need an upgrade to my suit.”

  “You definitely need an upgrade to your suit,” Tony argued, although it sounded too casual to be an ‘argument’ as if he was stating a fact. “It’s just a piece of spandex.”

  “Which I’ve been doing fine in, thank you,” Peter retorted. “Really, I appreciate that you’re concerned about me, but it’s not necessary.”

  Tony was not convinced in the least bit. 

  “Just because you’ve been surviving in that doesn’t mean you should be,” he said. “No, you’ve not been even surviving in that piece of crap. I saw what that lizard thing did to you. YOu could not have come out of it uninjured.”

  Peter didn’t have an answer to give to it. Still, he did his best to refute.

  “Well, I didn’t die, did I?”

  “Seriously?” Now Tony seemed exasperated. “Do you have any sense of self-preservation?”

  “Of course!” Peter said. “If I didn’t, how do you think I’m standing here right now?”

  “As much as I don’t want to intervene in what you do or how you do it,” Bruce joined in, “I don’t think that is a healthy attitude, Peter.”

  Peter sighed.

  “I really appreciate your concerns. I do. But I’m doing fine on my own. I always have,” he said. He didn’t give the two adults a chance to add anything to the conversation as he checked his phone just to make an excuse to get himself out of the situation. “Well, I gotta go. Got some grocery shopping, homework, and patrol to do.”

  He hurriedly picked up the backpack from the corner of the lab and walked out through the door. Tony and Bruce could only watch him go.

  “I’m so making him a new suit,” Tony muttered as he crossed his arms. 

  “Well, good luck with that,” Bruce mumbled.

  And that was the notorious Parker luck, right there.

  Three boys blocked his view. Peter sighed to himself and looked at the face of the boy smirking at him. He was just about to make it out of the building without getting noticed by his bullies. The irritating part was that Peter had already seen them coming. He just couldn't do anything about it other than to let them think that they got the better of him and caught him by surprise. That was one of the "perks" of having superpowers and having to hide them, pretending to be "Puny Parker".

  The boy standing in the middle yanked the pair of headphones that was covering Peter's ears.

  "What you got there, Parker?"

  It was Marcus from the football team. Originally, he was one of the followers of Flash back when Flash was Peter's arch-bully. That was until Flash lost interest in making Peter's school life miserable ― in fact, he had actually become a bit… friendly, to Peter's surprise. Thus, Peter once thought that maybe things could be better for a change. That was until Marcus decided to take the matters into his own hands. 

  And there he was, holding Peter's brand-new headphones in his hands and examining them with a sneer. Once he did so, however, he raised his eyebrows and whistled. Clearly, it was something that he did not expect to find in Peter's possession. Peter himself understood why as well: those were one of the most recently released editions with the best noise-canceling functions. They helped him tone down his heightened hearing at least a little when he wanted to simply shut everything out. Normally, he would definitely not have been able to afford them were it not for the income he was now getting from his "internship" under Tony Stark.

  "What the fuck?" said Marcus. He was still sniggering, but there was a sense of surprise and a bit of mock respect in his tone. "Where did you get this?"

  "Give 'em back," Peter said in a resigned tone.

  "Like, can you even afford this?" Marcus held it in front of Peter's eyes in a clearly mocking and taunting way. "Where did you steal this, huh?"

  "Hell, I didn't think you had the balls, Parker," Brian said from behind Marcus.

  Peter reached out to take his headphones back. But he knew that Marcus was going to pull it away from him, of course. He also knew that he could just overpower the likes of Marcus and his gangs and take his headphones back. He was almost tempted to as well. He was getting tired of playing the role of a powerless nerd. Then again, he just didn't really have a choice but to continue his act. 

  "You know, this reminds me," Marcus said. "I actually need a new pair of headphones myself."

  Peter sighed. He didn't need his superpowers to know where this was going.

  "That's not my problem," he said. "Just give them back. I have to go."

 As much as he was eager to get out of the situation, he wasn't lying. He was on his way to the Stark lab for his usual work hours. And he wanted to go there as soon as he could so that he would be able to stop or at least interrupt any and all schemes Tony was coming up with to modify his spider suits.

  "You wanna go?" Marcus said. "Then this is your toll. Hand them over and you can leave."

  "It's not funny. Just give them back," Peter said. Irritation was building up by the second.

  "Oh, you think I'm joking?" Marcus smirked. His eyes were glaring dangerously. Yet, it didn't intimidate Peter anymore.

  "Why don't you give them back?"

  The three boys and Peter all turned their heads toward a familiar voice.

  Flash was standing behind Marcus and his friends.

  Marcus scoffed.

  "Why?" He snarked. "What's it to you?"

  "Just give it back to him," Flash said with a rather serious face and voice.

  Marcus looked at Peter before he looked at Flash again.

  "So you've decided to side with Parker now? Hm? What's he has on you? Is he sucking your dick for you or something?"

  Brian and the other boy, Jason, sniggered and whistled. Marcus joined and laughed as well. 

  Flash sighed shortly and shook his head.

  "It's not funny anymore, Marcus, just stop."

  Marcus stopped sniggering and glared at Flash.

  "You try to teach me, Thompson?" He said. "You tell me what to do?"

  He turned to Brian and Jason.

  "Who was it that started this, agian?" He then turned back to Flash. "And now you try to play saint all of a sudden?"

  "I just grew out of it," Flash said. He looked straight into Marcus's eyes. "And maybe you should, too."

  Marcus stood still for a moment. Then he threw Peter's headphones on the ground and stomped his foot on it. With a large crash, the headphones smashed into pieces. Peter couldn't help and winced.

  Well, there goes my month's worth of pay.

  Marcus didn't say a word or even spare a glance at Peter as if he had completely forgotten about him. Then he just walked away from Peter toward Flash, bumped into him hard, and went past him. Brian and Jason followed him and the three of them furthered away. It left Peter alone with Flash in awkward silence.

  Flash eyed Peter uneasily. Peter avoided his eyes and picked up his headphones from the floor ― or what was left of it.

  "Sorry about that," Flash said after Peter straightened himself up. 

  Peter shook his head.

  "Don't worry about it," he said. he paused a little before he added, "And, um… thanks."

  Flash laughed nervously. "Yeah uh… don't mention it."

  Both Peter and Flash stood awkwardly. Peter couldn't bear the uncomfortable feeling. So he didn't give Flash another glance as he quickly passed by him toward the school door.

   Natasha listened to Tony's words with an unimpressed look on her face. She was sitting on a chair at a large table in the lab, leaning on the table and casually sipping her coffee. Bruce was also in the lab, looking at some holographic charts that floated around him.

  "I'm getting a feeling that he's trying to avoid us," Tony concluded. He drummed his spanner into his palm. 

  Natasha kept her face devoid of any emotions.

  "And I'm not the only one thinking that, right Bruce?"

  At Tony's abrupt diverting of attention, Bruce flinched before he nodded.

  Natasha looked at both men. She put down the cup on the table in front of her.

  "You haven't read his files, have you?" she asked.

  Tony blinked at her. Clearly, he didn't have any idea what she was getting at.

  "Of course I did," he said. "Or do you think that I just let Fury make me hire a stubborn and egotistical teenager without doing a background check?"

  "And you still have no idea why he's avoiding you?"

  "Well, the files didn't exactly include his diaries. How am I supposed to know why he's doing what?"

  Natasha shrugged.

  "No wonder he'd avoid you," she said. She put down her cup and straightened herself. "He probably decided that he couldn't have an intelligent conversation with you."

  "You're calling a man who graduated from MIT at 17 a dumbass?" Tony said.

  "It only shows that school diplomas don't mean anything," she retorted. "If you're so intelligent as you claim, then you should have figured out why he's not trying to associate with  you."

  Tony raised his eyebrows sarcastically.

  "Why don't you elaborate it, then?"

  Natasha gave him a deadpanning look.

  "His parents passed away when he was seven. He then lived with his aunt and uncle until he lost his uncle to a robber. He has no siblings or cousins of his age, and he has a long history of being bullied. What do you think that it tells you about the kid?"

 Tony looked at Bruce as if he was asking him for an answer.

  "It means that he most likely have had a solitary life. It would have been even more so after he assumed his identity as Spider-Man. He's used to being alone."

  Tony pursed his lips. Realization dawned on Bruce's face. Natasha raised her eyebrows as if she was asking for their answer.

  "So basically he has some kind of teenage angst," Tony said. "He just wants to be alone, getting all broody."

  "More like he doesn't know how to work with others," answered Natasha.

  "Then why did he accept to be in Avengers?" Bruce questioned.

  "Because he didn't have a choice in the first place," said Natasha. She crossed her arms. "He was out on his own. SHIELD had to identify if he was going to be a threat or an ally. It was either joining the Avengers Initiative or be marked as a potential risk and be put under close surveillance."

  "Sounds like something Fury would do," Tony commented. 

  Natasha raised her eyebrows at him. Tony, however, seemed to ignore it. Bruce, on the other hand, looked confused.

  "But why have him in Avengers?" He asked. "If all SHIELD needed was to clarify his intention, they could have just put him in the system for his identification."

  "It was Parker's own request not to have his identity revealed," replied Natasha. "It was his condition of joining Avengers. Avengers Initiative, on the official term, is dormant. That's why SHIELD is letting Fury direct it on his own. Fury agreed to it in order to include Parker in the initiative without having SHIELD find out about him. He also thought Parker's identity should remain covert."

  "And why's that?" Tony asked.

  Natasha hesitated for the first time. Her expression was still calm and unaffected as usual, but it took her a short moment of pause before she answered.

  "That's classified for now," she said.

  Tony narrowed his eyes at her as if he was about to pry. Yet, surprisingly, he didn't.

  "So the bottom line is that he needs to feel welcomed in the team, is that what you're saying?" Tony said instead.

  "More like 'comfortable' than 'welcomed'," Bruce corrected.

  Natasha shrugged.

  "I'm not suggesting anything. I'm just answering your question," she retorted.

  Tony pondered for a moment. He paced around the lab, tapping his philtrum with his finger. Natasha picked up her cup again and drank some more coffee.

  Suddenly, Tony whipped around and looked at her.

  "You said that Rogers's also going to be in town in a few days?"

  Natasha didn't answer. She just kept drinking her coffee. The lack of denial was a sufficient answer for Tony.

  "How about we do a team dinner? Tell Barton to come over as well. It's been a while since we last had one of those," he said. "When exactly was that again?"

  "About four, five months ago," Bruce answered, "when Fury introduced him."

  "Has it been that long?" Tony gasped dramatically. "Alright, we're doing this. How about… Friday night? Is that okay with everyone?"

  "I guess so," said Bruce, shrugging his shoulders.

  Natasha just sipped her coffee again.

  "Then I'm gonna text the kid before I forget." Tony pulled out his cell phone and quickly typed something into it. Bruce kept working on his own thing while Natasha watched Tony. After Tony pressed a button, he looked up again. "All set."

  "Do you think he'll come, though?" Bruce asked. "If what Agent Romanov says is the case, he might just try to back out of it, too."

  Tony smirked. It was a clear sign that he had some scheme in mind. 

  "I might be able to remedy that."

Chapter Text

   Peter was the first one to walk out of the classroom as the final bell rang. Even before the hallways got a chance to be crowded with other students, he was passing through the relatively spacious passages. He didn’t stop by his own locker ― he had already packed everything before the last class ― but headed straight to the one that was a few rows down from his own. The said locker was open with its owner standing before it, organizing her textbooks and belongings. Peter stopped right behind the girl and cleared his voice.

  “May I ask of you a piece of your time today?” He said cheekily in a theatrical tone.

  Gwen turned around and gave him a lopsided smile. 

  “For what purpose, exactly?” She said. 

  “Anything you wish for,” Peter said, shrugging his shoulders. “Movies? Dinner? Or some swinging?”

  “How about work?” Gwen answered as she hung her bag over her shoulders and closed the door of her locker. She then started to walk along with Peter through the hall. “Don’t you have to go to the lab today?”

  “Yeah, well, change of plans,” Peter said. “Some of the… members are dropping by today. Tony canceled the lab work. They’re having dinner together instead.”

  “Members as in… ‘members’?” Gwen said, emphasizing the last word with a shift of her tone.

  Peter hesitated before he nodded.

  “Wait, then why are you asking me out?” Gwen looked at Peter, confused. Then her expression changed instantly to that of a slight shock. “Is it… did they not invite you?”

  Peter scratched the back of his head.

  “No, no,” he said. “Tony texted and asked me to come himself.”

  “Okay. help me out here,” Gwen said with a frown. “So you were invited to a dinner with… your teammates,” her glance clearly indicated a certain other meaning as she chose the vocabulary, “but you are asking me to make plans with you?”

  “Uhm… yes…?”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m not going?”

   Gwen stopped in the middle of her tracks, causing a student that was behind her to almost bump into her. The said student sent a frown at her before walking away, but Gwen was too occupied with giving Peter an incredulous look to care about it. Peter also came to a halt, though he was able to make way for other students that were following him (with the help of his spider-sense as well). 

  “What do you mean you’re not going?” Gwen said.

  “I mean exactly what I mean,” Peter said in the most casual tone as if he was stating the obvious. “I don’t really feel like going there.”

  Gwen snorted humorlessly.

  “You do realize that probably every single one of the students in this school― no, probably everyone in this entire country would die for a chance to sit at the same table with the Avengers. And you’ve been invited by Tony Stark himself. Seriously. And you’re telling me that you’re not going?”

  Peter spared a brief side glance at around the two of them as if to make sure that nobody had heard what she said. 

  “Yeah,” he said.

  “I don’t understand,” Gwen said. “I thought you get along well with them.”

  Peter wriggled his eyebrows shortly and wet his lips. Then there was a shrug of his shoulders before he finally answered.

  “I do. They’re okay. I mean, I’m okay with them.”

  Gwen gave him a skeptical look.

  “I was just about to believe that, but now I can’t,” she said. “If you’re okay with them, why don’t you want to join them for dinner?”

  “Because I want to spend some time with you,” said Peter. “With everything that has been going on lately, we haven’t really had some quality time for us.”

  Gwen studied him with a straight and piercing gaze. It made Peter feel like he was melting helplessly. Or maybe that was what was actually happening to him at the moment. His mentality couldn’t stand firm under her eyes.

  “Are you sure that’s the only reason?” She asked.

  Peter gulped unconsciously. It was a subtle action that was most likely barely detectable, but for some reason, he just knew that Gwen probably noticed it.

  “Of course,” he said, making a conscious effort to make his voice sound firm and confident. “What else would there be?”

  Gwen looked at him with her sharp eyes for a short moment before turning away to start walking as if nothing had happened.

  “Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check on it,” she said. “My team recently started a new project and we’re kind of busy with seeing it through. I have to be at the lab right away.”

  Peter couldn’t help the mild sense of disappointment emerging from within him.

  “Oh, sure,” he still managed to say. “What are you working on?”

  “It’s like a new possible cure for killing cancer cells,” Gwen began. “We’re trying to come up with the most efficient formula using the genetic characteristics of different species that could fight off cancer while reducing the side effects as much as possible. It was one of the projects that had been going on for a while until one of the arachnids specimens mysteriously disappeared and we had to do it all over again."

  Gwen gave him a meaningful look. Peter just grinned, which made Gwen laugh a little as well.

 "Well, at least, that’s what the team is going for and I’m just following the instructions to conduct some experiments and write papers on them.”

  “That does sound big,” Peter said. He was genuinely impressed and intrigued that he even got to completely forget about the momentary disappointment.

  “It is,” said Gwen. She then cheekily smiled as she looked at Peter. “Just out of curiosity ― does Tony Stark know that your girlfriend works at Oscorp?”

  Peter scratched the back of his head.

  "He doesn't. I never really talked about it."

  "About which part, me being your girlfriend or me interning at Oscorp?"

  "Uh…. Both?"

  "Why not? It's not like they have a no-dating policy." Gwen paused for a moment. "Is there?"

  "No, no," Peter laughed. "At least, not that I know of."

  "Then why not? Are you trying to hide it forever?" Gwen gave him a skeptical look. "It might come up at some point, you know."

  "I don't know," Peter said. He hesitated a little. "I don't really talk about myself that much there."

  "You mean you only talk about work? That's gotta be boring." Gwen shook her head. "Wait, didn't you say that you had to sit through a two-hour-long therapy with Tony Stark?"

  Peter laughed. "Yeah, that was like a nightmare."

  "But you never talked to them about yourself?"

  "Well, you know what I'm like," Peter said. "He's the one to talk. I don't really like talking that much when I'm working."

  "Uh-huh," said Gwen. "Well, today might be a chance for you to open up a bit, then. Unless you plan to just stay quiet throughout the entire dinner with them."

  Peter groaned. "Don't remind me."

  Gwen laughed. "I think I should, though. Whether you like it or not, you're officially part of the team now. Don't you think that they should at least know about you a little?" 

  Peter only smiled awkwardly.

  By then, the two of them were already outside the school building and halfway across the field between the building and the gate. That was when Peter's phone vibrated inside his pocket. He pulled it out and checked the message that had just come in.

   From: Tony Stark - I'm waiting by the back of your school. I'm in a white car. Call me if you can't find it.

  Peter suppressed a groan. He sighed instead.

  "What is it?" Gwen asked.

  Peter hesitated before he eventually answered, "Tony's here."

  "Here? As in, here?" Gwen pointed to the ground. 

  "Yeah, he said he's waiting by the back there," he answered as he pointed at the direction with his thumb.

  "Then what are you doing here? Go see him," said Gwen.

  "But―"

  "Peter." Gwen gave him a stern look. "Go."

  Peter frowned childishly.

  "Yes, Mom," he said in a mocking tone. "I'll see you later."

  "Later," Gwen said.

  Gwen watched him go as if she was making sure that Peter did make his way to Tony Stark. When Peter went around the building and disappeared behind it, she finally turned around with a smile and a shake of her head.

  Peter had almost reached the back gate of his school when he was stopped by three large boys. Again.

  "Where are you going, Parker?" Marcus growled as he blocked Peter's path. Brian and Jason guarded his sides, making sure that Peter had no way to go around him.

  Peter tried to turn right and left only to be completely blocked by the three boys.

  "Come on, man," Peter said. "I really need to go."

  "Not so fast, you can't." Marcus shook his head. He sneered at him. "You haven't paid your toll yet, remember?"

  Peter sighed.

  "You destroyed those headphones, wasn't that enough?"

  "Well, I got nothing in the end, didn't I? So, no, it wasn't enough."

  Then a sudden punch flew into Peter's stomach. Peter couldn't say that he did not see it coming. But Puny Parker couldn't just evade a "surprise" punch from bullies who were larger than him. So he doubled over. 

  Before he could do anything else, Brian and Jason grabbed him from both sides and smashed him against the external wall of the school building. The two of them being football players, they weren't weak ― the cough that came out from Peter wasn't fake.

  "Time for some warm-up before the practice," Marcus sneered as he cracked his knuckles.

  Peter internally rolled his eyes. There it comes― A punch to the face ― Wham! Then another on the opposite side ― Wham! This time, into the stomach ― Wham! Now a kick coming in―

  Marcus paused in the middle of his kick at a loud honking of a car. He turned around to find the source of the sound. Behind him, outside the wire mesh that surrounded the school grounds, stood a white sedan. He frowned as he saw the car's window roll down.

  "Hey, you kids there!" The driver called.

  Peter would have smacked his forehead if neither Brian nor Jason was holding him tightly to the wall by his arms. He would always recognize the voice so easily. 

  "You might want to find another guy or no guy at all for that matter, 'cause, you know, bullying is bad?"

  Marcus looked back at Peter.

  "You know that guy?" He sounded like he was threatening Peter.

  Peter chose not to answer. But it did not help the situation.

  The driver honked the car again.

  "Pete! Come on!" He yelled through the window. "Or are you gonna just stay there and let those brats beat you into a pulp?" 

  Marcus glared at the driver and then at Peter. Yet, he did not dare continue his assault knowing that there was a witness. Brian and Jason also loosened their grip on Peter.

  Peter took it as a chance to pick up his backpack that had fallen at some point. He brushed the dirt off it before he hung it over his shoulder. He then walked over to the back gate, around the wire mesh, and reached the car. He opened the passenger's seat and got in. As he did, the window rolled up, sealing Peter inside completely with the driver.

  "What are you doing here, Tony?" Peter asked right away. He was unable to hide a bit of exasperation in his voice.

  "Do I need a reason to see my favorite intern?" Tony questioned, lowering his sunglasses and looking at him.

  "Since when am I your favorite intern?" Peter asked with a raised eyebrow. He then turned to look at Tony with suspicious eyes. "Did you try to mess with my suit again?"

  "Okay, first of all," said Tony. "I never mess with your suit, I make it better."

 "Yeah, that is messing with it in my book," retorted Peter.

  "And secondly," Tony continued as if he ignored Peter completely. "I didn't even touch your suit. I'm just here to pick you up."

  "And why would you do that?"

  "So that you don't try to sneak out and skip on the team dinner with some made-up excuses."

  Peter pursed his lips. Did the man have some kind of surveillance device around him?

  "But now I'm glad that I did, after seeing that."

  Peter huffed rather childishly.

  "I can handle it just fine on my own."

  "Uh-huh," Tony deadpanned, "yeah, I was really impressed back there, how you 'handled' it by nearly getting beaten up to death."

  "Well, I don't really have much choice," Peter said a little snappily. "I'm supposed to be this weak nerd and that means I can't fight back. And they can't even hurt me that badly, anyway. I heal fast and I control where I get hit."

  "Pete." Tony pulled his sunglasses off and looked at Peter. "You may have chosen to keep yourself unknown, but it does not mean that you cannot get help. There are other ways to deal with problems than just standing up to it alone."

  "Don't," said Peter. "Just don't, because that kind of lecture is the last thing I need right now."

  "No," Tony said. He was being stern for a change. There was no trace of his usual humor and casual tone. "You have a problem. Why can't you just admit that you need help? That you can get help?"

  "Because I can't!" Peter snapped. It was the first time that he actually genuinely got angry before Tony. Most importantly, it was the first time that he showed such emotion before him, as well. "You don't understand! Everyone that I cared about is gone, and everyone that tried to help me is dead because they helped me."

  He breathed hard. He tried to calm down. He had to calm down a little. He rubbed his face with his hands.

  "I've been just doing fine on my own," he said.

  Tony watched the teen silently for a moment.

  "Maybe," he said quietly. "But that doesn't mean that you should any longer."

  Peter didn't say anything.

  "Why do you think Fury put us all into a group in the first place? Why did he put you with us?" Tony said. "It's because no matter how hard you try, there are just things that you cannot deal with alone."

  Peter groaned.

  "That just sounds so cheesy," he mumbled.

  Tony snorted. "Yeah, well, all motivational speeches are," he deadpanned.

  Peter sighed.

  "I never had to work with someone before," he said.

  "You still don't," Tony replied. "Not usually, at least. You're already going around doing your own thing every night as it is. But I'm just saying that sometimes, it's better to just talk to someone. Preferable to me than Bruce because I want to be the first one to know all your dirty little secrets."

  "And that is exactly why I will always choose Bruce over you," retorted Peter.

  Tony narrowed his eyes in a frown. "I'm supposed to be your boss."

  "Then why don't you act like one for a change?" Peter deadpanned.

  "Alright, you're going nowhere, mister," said Tony. All the doors of the car locked before he immediately started the car.

  Peter huffed. "It's not like you were going to let me in the first place."

  "Of course not," Tony said as if he was saying the most obvious thing in the world. Then he placed his hand on the gear stick.

  Peter awkwardly cleared his throat.

  “By the way,” he said. Tony turned his eyes slightly to look at him. Peter looked out the window on the passenger’s side to avoid looking at Tony. “Thanks… for back there.”

  “Anytime, Pete.” Peter could hear Tony’s smirk in his voice.

  And they drove off.

Chapter Text

Peter may have not known the man named Steve Rogers for a long time, but he was pretty sure that the man was one of the most righteous guys that he had ever met. Steve Rogers was a soldier ― that was the best way to describe the man. Rules and missions were what defined the guy. His beliefs and values were unquestionably noble. He was a hero ― not the flashy and fashionable hero like Iron Man that modern people were accustomed to, but the very model of the classic notion of a hero with unyielding disciplines.

And such a guy was a fugitive? A criminal?

Yeah, right.

Of course, at one point, Peter wondered if he was deeming Captain America too highly in an idealistic image. After all, people could have layers that one cannot really see in a short time. Still, there was just something uncanny about how the media and the authority illustrated him as a wanted man. That was just not right.

Then it was made clear that there was definitely something shady going on when they reported that Nick Fury, the director of SHIELD himself, was killed. And he wasn't just killed ― he was assassinated. Peter was never actually a part of SHIELD to know just what was going on in there, but he could feel that something big was happening within the organization. Even a lighthearted and casual man like Tony Stark didn't dare joke about the situation.

"Both Rogers and Agent Romanov have gone off-grid," was the only thing that he said about it.

  Even though Peter was yet to feel a personal connection to either of the said people, he couldn't help the concern about their fate. He just hoped that whatever problems and accusations they were facing, things would straighten out soon enough. Well, as long as SHIELD was up and running, things had to go right at some point, right?

"The Headquarters for Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division located in Washington D.C. was sabotaged by an unknown force earlier today. Also known as Triskelion, these headquarters have been the very nest of the organization's entire operation and numerous projects. What is more shocking about this incident is that just a few minutes prior to the destruction of the Triskelion buildings, the majority of the organization's intelligence and confidential records were leaked online and to mass media. How it was leaked is still unknown, but it revealed that SHIELD had been compromised from the very beginning of the entire organization, a secretive terrorist group called HYDRA having grown within it."

Well, shit.

That was not what he had expected.

That was not what he had expected at all.

Peter shot up from his seat at the table, forgetting completely that he was in the middle of having dinner with his aunt. 

"Peter?" Aunt May looked up at him with bewildered eyes. 

It took a moment before Peter realized what he was doing.

"What's wrong?" Aunt May asked. She looked at his face and then at the small television screen in the kitchen where his gaze was fixed on. 

Peter looked down at her rather dazedly. Then he awkwardly sat back down in his chair.

"Nothing," he said. "I'm just― shocked by the― the news."

He couldn't tell if Aunt May was fully convinced. Yet, even if she wasn't, she didn't seem to pry too much.  Then again, she really had no reason to, for she wasn't aware of the fact that Peter was associated with SHIELD in more than one way.

Peter pretended to finish his dinner as soon as possible. He put his used plates and utensils in the sink.

"I, uh― I just remembered that I have this really important homework that I need to do," he told his aunt. "I have to get on it right now."

Even before giving his aunt to reply, Peter hurried out of the kitchen, nearly jumped up the stairs, and dashed into his room. He turned on his computer right away and searched the web, searching for every piece of information he could get on SHIELD and the new leaks. Of course, he knew that whoever it was that leaked it, they wouldn't have put everything in the open. Still… he needed to know just how far HYDRA had their hands on the SHIELD's operation and intelligence. He needed to get at least an estimate ― a rough idea of how much of his own information could have flowed into their hands. Fury had made a promise that he wouldn't have Peter's identity as Spider-Man known within SHIELD, but with him gone…

Peter bit his lips anxiously as he searched and searched. Yet, to both his disappointment and anticipation, he really didn't find anything useful. All he could find out was how SHIELD had never been SHIELD from the very beginning. Again, it wasn't something that Peter didn't expect, but it definitely didn't help the wild assumptions and anxiety he had.

Maybe Tony Stark was the best option for him to get anything out of. Peter thought for a moment if he should contact him right away. Then he quickly threw the idea. It was already getting late at night, and he was going to be at the lab the next day anyway.

The only downside to waiting until he got to the lab was that he had to spend the entire day waiting to end as quickly as possible. The moment the final period was over, he didn't waste any time in getting out of school. He even chose to get out of his day clothes to swing his way there instead of using the transportation like he usually did.

When he arrived at the lab ― on the window outside it, to be accurate ― Peter was surprised to find the lab empty. It was odd. It was already past the time that Tony and Bruce should have started their work there.

"Spider-ling! Up here!"

Peter looked up. Tony was looking down at him from the top of the building.

"Come on up! Lab's canceled today," Tony shouted.

Peter shot his web toward the edge of the building and shot himself up like a slingshot. He swooshed past Tony high into the air before landing behind him.

A small black jet was set upon the landing pad on the rooftop. Bruce was waiting by what seemed like the hangar door.

Peter took off his mask.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"We're going to go visit Capsicle in the hospital," Tony said, walking over to him. When Peter frowned slightly in confusion, he added, "He's in a hospital in D.C."

"Was he in the headquarters when they were sabotaged?" Asked Peter.

Tony huffed.

"Not just involved, he's the one that brought them down."

Peter stared at him. Captain America was the one that attacked SHIELD?

"I know you've got a lot of questions, but I want to get this done before dinner, so just hop on for now," Tony said as he walked over to the jet himself. "If you have anything you want to ask, do it on the jet."

Peter watched Tony and Bruce walk up the hangar door. When he stayed put, Tony turned around at him and jerked his head toward the jet.

"What are you waiting for? We haven't got the time."

Peter was still unsure, but jogged over and followed the men into the jet.

When the three of them reached the hospital room, a nurse was just gathering equipment. Steve was fully awake, sitting on the bed and seemingly having a casual chat with the nurse and a black man that Peter had never seen before.

Tony opened the door to the room and walked in just as the nurse was getting out of the room. The nurse smiled politely at them as she left. Steve and the other man turned to look at the three visitors.

"Tony," Steve said.

"See you're getting better there, Cap," Tony said.

Steve just grinned. He then looked at Bruce and Peter.

"Bruce, Peter," he acknowledged them with a nod of his head toward each of them. "Thank you for coming."

Bruce awkwardly smiled while Peter nodded in a similar manner.

"Where's Nat?" Tony asked, looking around the room.

Steve and the black man exchanged looks.

"She's got a lot to deal with," Steve said simply.

Tony shrugged.

"That's an understatement. Seemed like a lot of her dirty little secrets got out."

"Well, she didn't really have much choice," said Steve. When Tony looked at him, raising an eyebrow, he continued. "It was her that opened SHIELD's intelligence to the world."

All three visitors looked at him with surprised faces. Even Tony seemed impressed.

"It was the only way to expose HYDRA," Steve said.

Bruce nodded quietly.

"Still, I thought she was the last person to expose herself like that," Tony mumbled.

"Let's just say that it was that hard of a fight," the black man added.

Tony looked at him.

"Sam Wilson. Former pararescue airman," the man said.

"He helped me in this fight," Steve added.

Sam smirked as he said, "I was just following the captain's orders."

Tony walked over to the man and stretched out a hand.

"Tony Stark," he said.

Sam laughed lightly.

"Yeah, I know who you are. You're the man in shining armor."

Then he walked over to Bruce to offer a handshake.

"Nice to meet you," Bruce said.

Sam nodded. Then he turned to Peter.

"I'm… Peter Parker," Peter said awkwardly when he shook the man's hand.

Sam's eyes narrowed a little.

"You look young," he said.

Peter scratched the back of his head, not knowing what to respond.

Steve and Tony looked at Peter. They seemed to be trying to read his thoughts. Sam seemed to have picked up the mood.

"Something touchy?" He said jokingly as he released Peter's hand.

Peter smiled awkwardly and shrugged. Sam smirked before he walked over to the windows of the room and looked out the building, crossing his arms.

"So what now?" Tony asked, putting his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Fury's gone, SHIELD's dissolved. What's next?"

Sam glimpsed at Steve.

"It only means that Avengers out of SHIELD's hand now, doesn't it?" Steve said quietly. "We're on our own."

Tony scoffed. "When were we not? It just means that I have to pay for everything from now on."

"You know you don't have to," Steve said.

"If I don't, you're all left homeless," Tony retorted.

Steve laughed. 

"And I'm the only one here that can give you all the necessary upgrades," said Tony. "It's nothing that I haven't been doing, anyway."

"Thanks, Tony," said Steve.

Tony shrugged in acknowledgment. 

"Once you're all patched up, just get your stuff and move in," Tony said. "It'll be better for you to live in the tower. HYDRA's determined sons of bitches. They might have been exposed, but this is not going to be the end of them."

Steve nodded. "We need to get all of them. But you don't have to―"

"What about you? Are you in as well?" Tony asked Sam, seemingly ignoring Steve, who just laughed and shook his head.

Sam looked at Steve for a moment.

"I didn't come this far to just quit now," he said.

Tony nodded.

"So HYDRA's been inside all along," he mumbled, crossing his arms. "That's probably what Fury was on edge about, wasn't it?"

Steve nodded. His smile faltered and was replaced by a grim expression.

"I think he's been suspecting it for a while now," he said.

"Explains why he wanted to keep Parker out of the system."

Peter couldn't help being surprised by the sudden mention of his name.

"And why he didn't want us to be under their control," Steve said. "But even he hadn't seen this far."

"Who would've?" Tony said. "SHIELD was supposed to be the opposing force to wipe out HYDRA from the face of the earth. And now it turns out that it was just HYDRA in disguise?" He shook his head rather exasperatedly. He then mumbled, "my own father was supposed to be one of the founding members."

"Well, we've at least dug them out into the light. All we need to do is finish it," Steve said.

"It's not gonna be an easy fight," Sam said. "Remember that they've been onto us for a while now. They still might be at the upper hand."

Steve nodded. "We need to be careful. But we're not going to stop fighting."

It all sounded like any ordinary conversation, but Peter, for some reason, found himself drawn to Steve's words. A sense of motivation that he never had before seemingly shot through his vein like heat flowing through his entire body.

Even when he was battered up on a hospital bed, Captain America was indeed a captain. He was, without question, a soldier ― a very determined soldier.  And, more than anything, he was definitely a hero.

Chapter Text

"Guard up!"

Before Peter could react, a muscly calf flew into his left side, throwing him all the way across the room and against a padded pillar. He fell right down to the soft floor beneath it. Groaning, he propped himself up on his arms. Yet, he didn't get a chance to fully recover as his senses ringed crazily. He quickly pushed the floor with his hand and rolled over to his side to avoid the fist that flew right into the spot where his head had been just a mere second before. The momentum helped him get up to his feet once again.  He then jumped, kicked the pillar that he had crashed into, and soared to the ceiling, shooting some blots of webs at his opponent, who avoided them quite easily.

Damn. Captain America was Captain America. He had to admit; there was no way he could win this fight.

"I said, guard up!"

Even before he finished his sentence, Steve was already on the move. His infamous shield flew right toward Peter's eyes. Of course, Peter wasn't just going to just watch as it drew nearer. He stuck his fingers on the ceiling and curled up his body as it hung on them. Putting as much weight as possible, he kicked the large vibranium frisbee with both heels right back toward Steve. The moment his heels connected with the shield, Peter let go of the ceiling, rolled over, landed lowly on the floor, and wasted no time in shooting a string of web from each of his wrists. The two white strands stuck tightly to Steve's ankles as he shifted to his side to evade his own shield. Peter pulled the webs hard. Steve tumbled to the ground, being dragged helplessly toward his younger opponent. Just before the two of them clashed, Peter jumped upward once again. Steve's ankles followed and shot upward. The moment Peter's feet left the floor, however, Steve threw his over his own head. This time, Peter became the helpless one that flew through the air with a single yelp. He had to let go of the webs that he had been holding onto so that he could land on a nearby pillar instead of plummeting to the ground. Steve got up to his feet again and faced Peter with his fists raised before his face.

"Alright, playtime's over."

Both Steve and Peter turned to look at Tony, who had just entered the sparring gym.

"It's almost bedtime for our little Spiderling."

Steve lowered his arms and walked over to a corner of the room. He picked up a sports bottle and a clean towel from a bench there. Sam, who had been watching the entire show, smirked. Peter also jumped off the pillar and walked over to the others. Steve threw the towel at him.

"The last one was a nice move," said Steve. He picked up another towel and wiped the sweat on his face. "But you still need to work on your defense."

Peter quietly rubbed the towel against his own face.

"Your reflexes are good, and your senses are definitely one of your strengths, but those are not enough," Steve went on. "You're fast, I get that. That may give you a lot more advantage on assault. But that doesn't mean you can be reckless. Offense without a solid defense won't win you battles."

Peter didn't say anything. He just nodded and nodded. It's not the first time he was hearing it anyway.

Steve watched Peter for a short moment.

"Peter," he said. 

Peter looked up at him. He raised his eyebrows in response. Steve looked into his eyes in a way a scolding parent would do. Peter did his best to look as clean and innocent as possible. But a part of him already knew that he couldn't really fool Steve Rogers.

Steve studied Peter's face for a while. Peter saw his face grow sterner by the second.

"I thought you needed to leave early today," Tony cut in, looking at Peter.  "I specifically delayed the schedule for the new project just because of it."

"Uh, yeah, right," Peter answered. 

He quietly thanked Tony for granting him an opportunity to leave Steve's sight. He was well aware that Steve's eyes were fixed on him, but he thoroughly avoided meeting them as he hurried ― although he pretended not to ― to the door. He also tried his best not to listen to Steve talking about how careless Peter was being. He only thought about picking up his things from the lab and leaving the Avengers' parameter. He already had so much on his plate at the moment ― he really didn't need more people interfering with his life. 

Yet, his freedom didn't last long. Just as the doors to the elevator were about to open, Tony managed to catch up with him. Peter put on his best effort to look unaffected as he walked into the elevator. Tony also stayed quiet as he stepped in and stood next to him. Both of them kept their eyes forward at the closing doors and away from each other.

Tony remained silent with his usual carefree demeanor as if he was the only one riding the elevator. It continued on until the doors were fully closed and it began to soar through the underground floors. He maintained his stance so still that when he finally did speak, his quiet voice seemed to boom the atmosphere like an abrupt explosion.

"I don't want to sound old and boring like Captain Gramps back there," he said. Peter snapped his eyes toward him, but Tony kept looking at the unmoving doors. "But he's got a point."

Peter didn't know what to answer. So he didn't say anything but just dropped his gaze to the floor.

There was a short moment of pause as if nothing had happened. Then, Tony turned his head and glanced at Peter. Just by the simple movement, the frigid air seemed to shift a little playfully.

"Still no plan for college?" He asked.

Peter shrugged his shoulders. Tony eyed him.

"Your loss," he said.

Peter scoffed.

"It doesn't really concern you," he said. The words came out a bit more aggressively than he had intended. 

"Actually, it does when you're my employee," said Tony. He sounded as lighthearted and casual as he usually did ― or at least he did until his tone shifted to something more sincere. "I haven't been saying this to you for the sake of keeping your ego under control, but you do have a bright mind. It's a waste for you not to go to college and explore more options for your future."

"Just what do you want me to say?" Peter said, annoyed. He looked up at the number on the small screen as it increased with each level they were passing through. "That I'd drop everything and run off to some community college? It's my life, you know. And if you're gonna keep rubbing in with you writing my paycheck, then just forget about it all. It's not like I asked to be employed by you or SHIELD."

He probably crossed the line hard. Still, everything was already said, and he couldn't take any of them back. One good thing about that was that he felt weirdly satisfied with venting out his thoughts. Then again, there was always the catch: Tony was staring at him with eyes full of unsaid words ― probably ones that were not going to be pleasant for Peter.

"I'm just curious," Tony said. Unlike anything Peter had anticipated, he still sounded casual as if he had not heard Peter's rant. "Have you never wanted to go to college?"

Peter was now exasperated. He couldn't really tell if Tony was being sincere or just messing with him with a purpose.

"What I want doesn't matter, does it?" Peter nearly snapped. "Clearly, I don't get to have anything I want."

The elevator doors granted an opportunity to get out of the situation as they opened. Peter practically stomped out without looking at Tony even once.

Well, shit. Tony was now going to add 'bratty' to his dictionary about Peter. Or even worse ― he might have him suspended from both his lab and the Avengers. Oh well, what did it matter? This whole "team" thing was annoying him more than doing him any good. It was probably best for him to be alone. He had always been alone, anyway. 

His mood didn't get better even after he returned to his own room back home. If anything, it managed to depress him even more. The red webbing of tape and photos all around the room were just screaming evidence of how complicated his life had been. The unsolved mysteries of his parents' research, blowing up his relationship with Gwen, and now falling apart with the Avengers ― just what did he ever do to deserve this?

Peter didn't even bother to sigh. He let out his frustration by slamming the door shut behind him and stomping all the way to the garage. The garage had already been a small workshop for Peter and Ben, but since he passed away and Aunt May sold his car, it had become even more like Peter's own lab. Peter switched the light on in the corner and placed his burnt web shooter on the worktable. This "worktable" of his was significantly smaller and lacking than the one in Tony's lab, but Peter felt the safest and the most at ease in this small garage full of junk rather than the unnecessarily expensive and massive facility. He already had made it do for himself in the small corner of Queens: he didn't need the help of some haughty billionaire.

Peter set out all the necessary tools on the surface and began to work. Max's electric power had completely fried his web shooter to the point of being irreparable. Fortunately, he only managed to burn one, and the other web shooter was still intact. He used it to create a line of webbing and connected it to the battery he had bought on the way back home. Despite all the circumstances, he felt a little spark of enthusiasm inside him. He couldn't help that a scientific experiment always had somewhat of a stimulating effect on him.

 Steve walked out of his room in a fresh shirt and a pair of casual pants, wiping his wet hair with a towel. He walked into the kitchen and headed to one of the cupboards to pull out a glass for him. He had just turned away from the refrigerator after filling his cup with water when he spotted the newspaper lying on the island table. He remembered having read the headline of the day during breakfast. He strode toward it and picked it up in his hand again.

ELECTRIC TERROR IN CENTRAL NEW YORK

Spider-Man Faces Off an Unknown Electric Man

Underneath the headline was a photo of a hooded figure and Spider-Man facing each other.

"I know you're a man out of your time, but just so you know, nobody reads newspapers anymore."

Steve looked up and found Sam smirking at him. Steve let out a light laugh. Sam's eyes lingered on the newspaper before he crossed his arms.

"Teenager," he deadpanned with a mocking smirk. "So broody all the time."

"I've always had the impression that he's a little reckless," said Steve. His tone was starkly serious compared to that of Sam's. "But it's worse than I thought."

"Probably just some old teenage rebellion," said Sam. Steve raised his eyebrows at him, making Sam put away his jokes, albeit with an eye roll. "Or he's a poor little broken innocent soul."

Steve laughed as he shook his head.

"I see what you mean, though," said Sam. "But, jokes aside, he is a teenager. That's like that time of your life where everything and anything seems like it's gonna crush you."

Steve's brows furrowed a little in concern. Sam nudged his head toward the news report.

"I've seen the clip," he said. "For a kid, he's done a pretty good job handling that lunatic."

"Only because the other guy was not fully engaged," said Steve. "Peter might have gotten him the first time, but if he were to face him again, we don't know what might happen."

Sam nodded.

"Well, if there's anything that the Air Force taught me, it's that you can never get too prepared when it comes to training," he said. "But the important thing is that the kid sees it himself. You can't do anything about it unless he makes up his own mind. It's not something someone else can do for him. And that kid's got some serious trust issues. As long as he acts like a scared little kitten in the corner, nothing's gonna work."

Steve nodded his head, sighing quietly. He took a moment, seemingly collecting his thoughts, before looking upward.

"JARVIS," he called.

"Yes, Captain Rogers," the somewhat posh and calm mechanical voice responded.

"Retrieve all the footage related to Spider-Man," Steve said. "Get them ready in the conference room."

He then tossed the newspaper back on the tabletop.

"Yes, Captain Rogers," the artificial intelligence replied.

Sam shook his head as he laughed in a resigning manner. 

"When I signed up for working with Captain America, I did not expect that I would end up having to babysit a moody teenager," he said. 

Steve chuckled as he emptied his cup of water. He placed the cup in the empty sink and walked over to the elevator.

The conference room was usually for "team meetings" that they never ended up having. Once the Chitauri's attack was taken care of, the Avengers was as good as disbanded, and Steve didn't have anything against it. He was a soldier ― he was used to taking on missions and walking away when they were over. As ironic as it might sound, the world was better off without perils that required people like him to face.

Yet, he also knew the inconvenient truth. If there had been anything that the Battle of New York against Loki and his alien army had proven, it was that the war was far from being safe. That was why, even though the SHIELD did not particularly like the band of uncontrollable superhumans, Nick Fury insisted on maintaining the team. That was why Tony Stark kept on funding and managing the team's business after SHIELD had fallen. And that was exactly why Nick Fury thought he needed to expand the team, even if it meant dragging an underage vigilante into an immeasurable risk. Because they needed to be ready for anything.

The lights came on automatically as Steve walked into the conference room. In the middle of the room was a large meeting table with a transparent surface, surrounded by a dozen chairs. It didn't seem to have any kind of extraordinary features until a set of several holographic images popped up above it.

Steve took a seat in one of the chairs as he studied them.

"Do you have the footage from last night?" Steve asked.

"Indeed," answered Jarvis. 

A couple of paused videos appeared on the surface of the table before him. Steve tapped on one that looked like it had been recorded on someone's personal device. He hit the play icon in the center of it. The overall angle was shaky, but the video had managed to capture a closer view than most of the news clips. He went through several videos of Spider-Man facing different opponents: from common street thugs and armed robbers to villainous ones such as the lizard man and the man of electricity.

He was just going through the sixth one when the door opened abruptly. Steve turned around in surprise.

"Heard you were in here," Tony said as he walked into the room. His eyes moved to the holographic images floating above the table. "I see you doing some extra-curricular work."

He walked around the table to sit down across from Steve. Steve watched Tony's movement. Tony, however, did not meet Steve's eyes as he stared at nothing, trapped in his thoughts for a few seconds.

"Were you looking for me? Or are you here for something?" Steve said after waiting patiently.

"The same reason you're here, I presume," said Tony. His eyes moved back to the holograms ― the display of information on Peter.

Steve gazed at the paused video in front of him. The frame was frozen at the moment of Peter lunging headfirst toward his enemy.

"I'm starting to think that he's getting dangerous," said Tony.

Steve looked up at him.

"He's too used to shutting everything off," Tony continued. "I've been trying to give him space so that he can take his own time and pace, but it's only getting worse."

"He wasn't that bad for a while," said Steve. His gaze moved down to the video screen once again. "He has always been reckless, but there also used to be confidence and certainty in his moves. I also noticed that he has become especially tenser in the past few weeks."

"He is a bit tenser than usual. And by 'a bit', I mean a lot."

Steve sighed lightly.

"I can't say for sure. I know nothing about what goes on in his life," he said. "But I can see that there is something bothering him. He may try to mask everything, but he's still a kid."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"In terms of his personal life, we can't do anything about it as long as he keeps everything to himself. The best thing is to make him willingly come forth on his own, but it's not something we can force him to do. For now, I'm thinking of training him in combat. It might at least help him preserve himself in fights."

Tony scoffed. 

"So you're leaving me with the hard part?" He said. "I'm supposed to play the therapist while you get to beat him up?"

Steve nearly rolled his eyes.

"It's something we all need to work on together," he remarked. "We all hold responsibility for one of our own."

"Jeez, you have no sense of humor at all," said Tony, rolling his eyes. "Right now, I'm trying to get him to go to college."

"That's his choice, Tony," said Steve. "If he's not willing to pursue higher education, you can't just force him to."

"You clearly haven't seen him in the labs," Tony said, raising his eyebrow at him. "Practically seventy percent of the new upgrades to all your equipment is Pete's work. He needs to get out there, experience a bigger world. He was built for that, his intelligence was built for that. He just tries to seem like he's not interested, but he is. It shows in his eyes."

"Maybe it's because of the tuition issue?"

Tony gave Steve a look.

"I've been paying the kid for over a year now. Do you think I wouldn't have considered his potential college tuition?"

Steve chuckled and shook his head.

"I think he's taking on too much responsibility," said Tony. "His responsibility for the city. His responsibility for his aunt. Whatever it is, he's putting what he should be doing before what he wants to do."

It earned a nod from Steve.

"He has a great sense of responsibility," he said.

"Too great in my opinion," grumbled Tony. "It only makes him too stubborn for his own good."

A small smile ― or more like a smirk ― formed on Steve's face. Tony narrowed his eyes at him.

"I know what you're going to say, so don't," he said. 

Steve obliged by not adding a word, but the smile didn't leave so soon. Tony stood up from his chair.

"Well, this has been a useful talk," he said. Then he walked toward the door. "Have a good evening, Cap."

"Good night, Tony," Steve said over his shoulder with a lingering smile.

Listening to Tony's footsteps fading away, Steve gave one last look at Peter's image on the screen.

"JARVIS, wrap it up for today," Steve said, getting up from his chair.

"Yes, Captain Rogers," JARVIS answered.

Steve watched the images shut down and disappear instantly. He then left the empty conference room and returned to his quarters for the night.

 The digital ringtone shrieked rudely, piercing through the blissfulness of his sleep. At first, Peter didn't recognize that it wasn't his usual alarm but an incoming phone call. His mind still groggy and his eyes closed, Peter shot a web toward the direction of his cell phone from where the spot on the ceiling he was sticking onto. He pulled the web toward himself as he tried to return his consciousness back to reality. 

CLANG!

"Ugh!" Peter groaned loudly, loosening his grip on the web.

With a loud "cling", the hammer dropped right onto the floor. Peter rubbed the side of his forehead where the said tool had flown right into as he shot another web at his ringing phone. This time, he made sure he was looking at where he was aiming for. The small device flew right into his hand. Checking the name on its screen ― Harry Osborn ― Peter jumped down from the small space to the ground. He stretched his once crumpled-up body before answering the call.

"Hello?" came out slurred.

"Pete," Harry's low voice said through the speaker.

"Hey, Harry." Peter cleared his throat. He rubbed his eyes to get himself to wake up a little more. "Wha― what time is it?"

"Late, early, I don't know," Harry said with a humorless laugh. "I've been up all night."

A pause of silence followed. Even though Peter's mind wasn't back to its full consciousness, he could sense that something was not quite right.

"Listen, Pete," Harry said after a short while. "I need to see you."

"Are you― are you alright?" Peter said.

"Not really." There was another pause. "I'm dying."

It was like a switch inside his brain. Peter's entire body was now fully awake and alert.

"What―"

"But I think you can help save my life."

"Wait a second, Harry," Peter blurted. "I don't― I don't understand what you're saying."

"Can you come over to Oscorp today?" Harry said. "I'll explain everything."

"Uh― yeah, sure," Peter stuttered, not really knowing what he was saying. "I'll be there in about an hour."

"Thanks, Pete," Harry said. "I really need your help."

Peter couldn't say anything as he hung up the call. His body was still refusing to move from the shock of hearing that his friend was dying. But just how could Peter be of help in saving him?

"Spider-Man. He's the key."

Exactly an hour later, Peter was standing in one of the conference rooms in Oscorp, staring at his friend as he talked.

"He can do everything, everything , a spider can. Now, where do you think he got those powers from?"

Peter tried hard to ease his screaming senses. Where was Harry going with this? Why and how was he talking about Spider-Man after saying that he needed Peter's help?

Harry pointed toward the screen on the wall. It showed the paused video clip of their fathers discussing their research project about using spider's venom to cure diseased cells in the human body.

"That," he said, looking at Peter with hopeful eyes. He seemed gleeful that he had found hope for elongating his life, but for some reason, there was also a hint of something that resembled madness. "That's the only explanation. He was bitten by one of those things, and it worked! I don't know how, and I don't know why, but he can do everything a spider can, including self-heal."

It was true. Everything that Harry was saying was true.

"I need to find him," Harry said with hope and certainty. "I need his blood."

As if it was reacting to Harry's words, Peter felt his blood turn cold.

"You need," he said slowly, "Spider-Man's blood?"

Harry nodded.

"That's the only way. The only way to save my life."

Peter shook his head.

"How can you be so sure, though? It may not be that simple, Harry. You know what happened to Curt Connors, right?"

The smile on Harry's face fell in an instant as it jolted in irritation.

"Connors was weak," he said. "This is me, Peter."

"So, what, are you going to set up a van and have him donate? I mean, he's a guy that covers his entire body in spandex. Will he just willingly give out his blood?"

"That's not your problem. All I need you to do is just find him for me."

"And how am I supposed to do that? I'm not a private investigator, Harry."

"But you work for Stark."

Peter closed his mouth and pursed his lips.

"That's what you said, that you work for Stark," Harry repeated.

He had said so, indeed. When Peter had visited Harry after hearing of his father's death, he ended up mentioning his "internship" at Stark Industries.

"And what does that have to do with this?" Gulping, Peter asked slowly.

"Well, he's an Avenger." Harry's voice sounded as if he was trying to be patient against his temper. "There's been a rumor, since the SHIELD intelligence leaked out, that they had information on Spider-Man ― that Spider-Man had become an Avenger. Stark must have some information on him. I need you to find it for me, Pete. I don't need anything else. I don't want to know who he is ― I just want his blood."

"Harry, I―" Peter needed to choose his words carefully. "I'm just an intern. I don't know anything about the Avengers. Even if Spider-Man was a part of them, I don't have access to that kind of information."

"Peter," Harry cut in. "Just say yes. Please."

If he was an ordinary boy Peter Parker, he might have said yes already. Of course, he cared about his friend, and he wanted to help him. Yet, he wasn't just a nerdy kid from a small town in Queens. He was Spider-Man. And it wasn't just about protecting himself and his identity that he didn't like giving Harry his blood. Every instinct inside him was screaming against it.

That did not mean that he could just say no to Harry's face. It was hard for him to turn his friend down as much as he couldn't promise to help him.

Peter turned away from Harry without saying anything. Was giving his blood the only way of saving his life?

"Don't turn your back on me!" Harry growled as he roughly grabbed Peter's shoulder. 

Peter couldn't do anything as he was turned around again to face Harry's tired and desperate eyes.

"I don't want to end up like my father, Peter," said Harry. He sounded like the little kid that Peter met for the first time. "Peter, please."

Maybe it was easier. He should have just said yes for the moment. He could just say it and make Harry believe that he tried but couldn't get what he wanted. 

But that wasn't right. Peter did not want to lie to his already-suffering friend. He really wanted to help him, and just giving everything harry wanted just because he was begging wasn't the answer.

"I can't―" Harry whispered before throwing his arms around Peter's torso. "Please."

His arms hunt tightly on Peter ― as if Harry was trying to physically trap him inside his plea. As if he was preventing himself from leaving his life by holding onto him.

Sighing softly, Peter gently patted Harry's shoulders before he freed himself from his hug.

"I'll― I'll try," he said. "I'll try, Harry. I'll try to― find him."

Harry didn't look so happy as he accepted Peter's uncertain answer. But it was the best Peter could offer. And it was the final answer he could give him.

Peter's heart weighed heavily inside his chest as he went down the building. He meant what he said when he told Harry that he would try, He was going to try to find a way to help him.

But how?

Peter was deep in thoughts when he reached the first floor. With his eyes fixed on the floor, he walked down the hall, relying on his senses to detect any hindrance. Just as he turned around a corner, a prickling sensation shot through his nerves. Someone tripped only a few feet away from where he was standing. Out of reflex, Peter reached out and grabbed the lady's arm to steady her.

"Are you alright?"

He froze when he looked into a familiar face.

Gwen's wide eyes stared up at him. Both of them looked at each other in surprise and awkwardness. 

"Hi," Gwen breathed. She looked unusually flustered and on edge.

"Hi," Peter repeated.

Before he could regain himself, Gwen nervously looked over his shoulder and around them before she grabbed Peter by his hand and pulled him toward the nearest maintenance closet. Hastily closing the door, she looked through the set of square holes in the door. Peter also looked out and found a shady-looking man snapping his gaze from one spot to another as if he was searching for someone.

"She's not here," the man said. "Check another floor."

Peter turned back to Gwen.

"They're looking for you," he said.

Gwen nodded.

"There was an accident in the Genomic Labs, and they're covering it up. And I found out."

She glimpsed toward the outside once again before she continued.

"That guy from Time Square the other night?"

Peter narrowed his eyes in alarm.

"I've met him. He was an electrical engineer in the building."

She was talking about Max. So Max was involved in a lab accident. That was what changed him into that… thing.

"He loved Spider-Man, by the way." Her voice was teasing. "Like, a real fanatic."

Peter laughed humorlessly. 

"I didn't really get love vibes back there. It was more of an 'I want to kill you with my electricity' vibe."

"Well, that's actually kind of what it's like to love you," Gwen deadpanned.

Peter shut his mouth right away. She was probably right. He wasn't really good with relationships ― and by "not good", he meant "terrible". He was the one that ended things with Gwen the first time. And then, he was the one that returned to her. And then, he decided to break up with her again. And there he was, getting upset by the news that she decided to leave New York ― leave where he was ― to study in England. What gave him the right to feel betrayed by it? He was the one that was playing with her feelings, albeit unintentionally.

Yet, he couldn't just keep her close to him. He had already had her father killed. And talking to Harry only made it clear that Peter definitely should stay away from Gwen. If someone like Harry found out that Spider-Man had an association with SHIELD and Avengers, Peter couldn't even imagine how much HYDRA knew about him. He couldn't drag Gwen into such a mess. It was much better for her own good for him to stay away from her.

But just why did he want to kiss her so badly? Why was he enjoying this moment so much?

"Anyway, I was searching for him on the computer, and all the files ― he's erased," said Gwen.

"My God," Peter breathed.

"He's completely erased."

"That's Oscorp." Though I hoped that they would be different.

Gwen looked into his eyes.

"What about you? Why are you here?"

Something heavy blocked the inside of his chest as Peter's mind returned to Harry's pleas.

"Harry," he answered.

"Osborn?"

"He's dying, Gwen."

She squinted her eyes in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"He's dying." Peter hesitated for a short moment. "And he thinks the only thing that's gonna save his life is my blood. Spider-Man's blood. And as far as I know, if I give it to him, it could kill him."

"Or something worse."

Gwen was intelligent as ever.

"That's why I can't just give it to him."

She was about to say something, but she quickly closed her mouth as a set of male voices passed by the door. 

"This is the maintenance closet, Gwen," Peter pointed out. "You know that this is the most cliched hiding place you could've chosen, right?"

Gwen gave him a sarcastically exasperated look.

"I'm sorry for not taking us to the Bahamas of hiding places."

Peter quickly scanned the parameter through the cracks. The longer they were in there, the higher the chances were that they were going to be caught very soon.

"Listen, here's the plan," he told Gwen. "I'm gonna distract them, and you get to the elevator, okay?"

She nodded and reached for the door. At that moment, however, an urgent instinct took control of his body. Without even acknowledging his action, Peter grabbed her arm. He wasn't ready to be apart from her just yet.

Gwen turned to look at him. Her beautiful big eyes were fixed on him, but the only thing he could see was her lips. And the next second, his own had collided with hers, breathing in her breath. It took her by surprise, but she did not refuse it ― rather, she embraced him and cherished the moment.

"Shit," Peter muttered as he finally took enough control of himself to pull away from her. "I'm sorry."

"You just kissed me," whispered Gwen.

"I know, I'm sorry." Peter looked down, avoiding her eyes. "I know I shouldn't. I― I couldn't help it."

Gwen pursed her lips. She let out a deep breath before she looked out toward the hallway. Seeing that the coast was clear, she threw a brief look at Peter and opened the door. Peter nodded and readied himself, going over the simulated plans in his mind.

He followed behind Gwen out of the closet, keeping a short distance from her. From a nearby cart, he snuck a cup of hot coffee and waited by the corner for the thugs to make their appearance.

Three. Two. One.

Just in time as the man took his turn, Peter bumped right into him in full force. He didn't forget to tilt the cup toward the man so that the hot liquid poured right onto him.

"God damn it!" The man cried.

"I am so sorry!" Peter exaggerated as he pretended to examine the damage. "That was a hot latte all over your―" He crouched down to his knees and quickly tied the shoelaces of the man together. He kept his leg sticking out behind him so that the security guy he had sensed to be approaching tripped over it. "I didn't mean to do that. Oh― no!"

Then he shot up, holding the mug in his hand to splash the leftover coffee right in the fact of the second security guy. Using the chaos as a distraction, Peter pulled the shady man's jacket off, turning the man around in the process to block the security men's movements.

"Miss! Stay right there, miss! Stay right there!" The man called out toward Gwen as she smoothly got onto one of the elevators as if nothing was going on. It was too late when the security officers finally managed to reach it.

"I am so sorry," Peter said loudly as he pushed the man to the ground. He then turned around and headed toward the exit.

Once he stepped out into the streets, all the lightheartedness faded away as if he had left it behind inside the building. Standing in the open street of a busy New York felt exactly like how his mind was lost within the complicated webs of all his problems. He was the only one stuck there, not knowing where to go while everything around him moved so quickly that he couldn't even try to grasp any of it. 

Peter slowly began to walk, although he didn't have an idea where he was headed. He just needed to move, to at least try to organize his thoughts and priorities.

The first and foremost matter at hand was finding a way to help Harry and deal with his desire for Peter's blood. The problem was that even Peter himself did not know the physiology of his transformed body to the full extent. He needed to find out exactly how his blood could heal and how it could hurt Harry. But where was he supposed to study all that?

Well, the first place he could think of was the Stark Tower ― or the Avengers Tower, now that Tony had officially renamed it. There was no other place where Peter could attempt such a delicate and difficult study. But did he want to bring such a personal matter to the Avengers, where he was most likely going to attract the attention of the grownups? And he had practically stormed out of there like a teenager having a rebellion against his parents just on the previous day. Could he really just walk back in there again and ask to use the facility for private purposes?

There was another issue as well. Peter was not sure if he could conduct this research all on his own. He might have a strong interest in all scientific fields and usually had no major difficulty in understanding new concepts, but he wasn't an expert in any of the fields. Maybe it was better for him to go to college. It wasn't that he didn't want further education. It was just that he couldn't leave his aunt behind alone just to do what he wanted. 

There was no use thinking about that now. It wasn't something that he could remedy in a short time. If he only had an expert on biology and genetics around him that he could get help from…. Curt Connors would have been the best fit for that description, but he was a convicted prisoner with an unstable mentality. Other than him would be―

I once did everything I could to reverse the mutation. I'm not an expert on biology, but I studied what I could ― blood, cells, genetics.

Peter pulled out his cell phone. Dr. Banner was also a member of the Avengers, but he wasn't like Tony or Steve. He didn't ask that many questions and seemed reliable enough. Of course, Peter had to keep in mind that there was always a possibility that he would tell Stark or someone about what he was up to. Yet, for now, he was the last straw, and Peter didn't have much time on his hand.

He found Dr. Banner's name on his contact list and pressed the call button without a second thought.

"Peter?" Dr. Banner sounded surprised. After all, it was the first time that Peter called him directly. 

"Dr. Banner," Peter said. Although he had decided to ask for his help, he couldn't get to bring himself to say it.

There was only silence on the other side as Dr. Banner waited patiently to let Peter take his time.

"Can I―" He moistened his lips. "I think― I might need your help with something."

Chapter Text

  Peter couldn't believe he was doing it. Well, he could ― it was just that his ego was not quite ready yet to really do it. He thought making a phone call to Natasha Romanov was the hardest thing he had ever had to do, but now he had to go up to Tony and ask him for some classified information without raising too much suspicion from the man.

  Then again, he didn't really have much choice, did he? He needed to know more about his parents.

  "A few days after the funeral, two government men came to see us. They said the genetics research that your father was doing with Norman Osborn was very valuable, and that people would pay a lot for it. And that's why he went off with it. They said he was a traitor. I couldn't believe it, Peter. They told us he betrayed his best friend ― all of us ― for the money."

  Aunt May sounded genuine when she told him about his dad's work, but something didn't add up. Peter couldn't say that he knew his father that well, but the idea of him abandoning everything else just for money was simply absurd. And Aunt May didn't tell him which government organization those men were from. What if they were SHIELD agents ― or more like HYDRA men trying to locate his father's research?

  Peter paced back and forth without realizing that he was doing so. 

  "Peter."

  He missed the first time when Bruce called his name.

  "Peter!"

  Peter snapped his head back up and looked at him.

  "You okay?"

  "Uh― yeah," Peter nodded exaggeratedly. 

  Bruce pointed to one of the monitors on the lab table standing near Peter.

  "The results came out."

  Peter didn't wait for a moment before he headed straight for it.

  "It seems your genes have completely mutated with whatever came from the spider," Bruce explained as Peter took in the report on the screen. "And as I already said, I'm not an expert on biology or mutation. But, I think there are a few things that might not have been compatible with human physiology."  "And by 'not compatible', you mean it could've killed me?"

  "Or turn you into something like…." Bruce's hands waved through the air seemingly without purpose. Yet, Peter could see that he was indicating to himself. "Something you can't control."

  Peter pursed his lips. Those were exactly what he was fearing to happen to Harry once he gave his blood to him.

  "You were right not to give this to your friend, Peter. We don't know what might have happened," Bruce went on. He hesitated a little as he looked at his own monitor. "It's actually a miracle that all the genes merged into your body so well. They just fit in perfectly. Almost… too perfectly."

  That brought a frown to Peter's face.

  "Wait," he said, tearing his eyes off the screen to look at Bruce. "What do you mean―"

  Bruce shook his head. "I can't say for sure, but the way they fit in so well— the chances are very low. Some might even say that it was almost—"

  Designed for Peter.

  The rest of the sentence was left unsaid, but it was still clearly conveyed between the two just by one shared look.

  "You said your father was in charge of the research?" Bruce asked. "I think the best assumption is that he used his own DNA when he was experimenting, which is why it fit yours so well. Because you inherited his genes. So, unless we separate the spider's genes from your own human DNA, it might be impossible to develop a cure that your friend's looking for."

  "But we could try, right?"

  "Like I told you, Peter, I'm not a biologist. We can try to find a way, yes, but I cannot guarantee success."

  "That's all I need, Dr. Banner."

  "But, Peter, even if we did separate the spider genes, there's no guarantee that it won't be dangerous for your friend."

  Peter wanted to argue, but he knew that Banner was making a good point.

  "I know," he answered.

  Bruce looked at him with concern-filled eyes and gave him a short nod of his head. He then hesitated a little.

  "You know, it might be better to have Tony work with us."

  Peter bit the inside of his lower lip. Although he couldn't admit it right away, he had been thinking the same thing. After all, he was a genius, whether his specialty lay in the field of genetics or not. 

  Well, beggars couldn't be choosers.

  Peter let out a resigning sigh as he nodded.

  "So he finally approves."

  Peter couldn't tell why he was not surprised to hear Tony's voice. He rolled his eyes as he turned around and faced the smug man leaning by the entrance.

  "I've been waiting for the moment you let me in on your little secret project you've been planning inside my own lab."

  Tony walked over to the worktable Peter had been using, his hands sticking into the pockets of his jeans. 

  "Spill. What do you need my help with?"

  Even before Peter could answer, Tony pulled the monitor toward him and looked through the report. 

  "Spider genes?" Tony turned his head to Peter. "I guess this is yours?"

  Peter nodded, albeit a little reluctantly. 

  "My, uh… my friend, he's… he has this genetic disease that's killing him." Even as he was saying, Peter didn't really know how much he was willing to tell Tony. "And maybe if I can get the genetic code for the self-healing power from the spider genes I got, I might be able to help him."

  Tony took in Peter's words for a moment. 

  "Genetics, huh?" He said, raising his eyebrows. He glimpsed at Peter and then at Bruce. "And you're trying to do it with a gamma-ray expert and a mechanic."

  "Well, I don't exactly have a choice," Peter said rather sulkily. "I don't really have much time."

  Tony looked through the information on the monitor for a moment. Then he hummed as he stroked his chin.

  "Maybe now you do," he said. He then turned around as if to leave the lab.

  "I gotta make some calls," he said.

  "Wait," Peter cut in quickly. "You're not trying to get someone, are you?"

  Tony turned around.

  "You said you don't have much time," he said. "That's all the more reason you need help from an expert."

  "But― I can't― how am I supposed to explain this without them knowing this is mine?"

  "She won't know unless you tell her yourself."

  "She?" Bruce said. His frown turned to realization. "Is it Helen you're talking about?"

  "Did you have anyone else in mind?" Said Tony.

  Peter snapped his attention to the two men.

  "Wait, you mean Dr. Helen Cho? The geneticist?"

  Tony shrugged in a sarcastic motion.

  "Of course you know the names of all the scientists ever existed," he said. "You seriously need a life, Pete."

  Peter decided to ignore his quick teasing completely.

  "You're thinking of bringing Dr. Helen Cho into this?"

  "She's the best in the field," Tony said as if he was saying the most obvious thing in the world. "Maybe we can send her a sample, ask her if whatever you're going for is actually possible."

  There was no way that Peter could deny that it was the best idea. As if Tony had seen it, he smirked.

  "I'm gonna make the call," he said. He was just about to pass through the door when he turned around. "Oh, and why don't you get a blood sample from your friend? It will probably help come up with a cure that suits him."

  Right. Why hadn't Peter thought of it before? Of course, he needed Harry's blood sample. Without knowing what exactly is wrong with him, he wouldn't be able to help him.

  Peter was too busy thinking about how things were getting much bigger than he had planned that he nearly forgot that he had something else to ask of Tony.

  "Hey, Tony!" Peter called out, hurrying after him. He was able to catch Tony before the elevator doors closed. Peter scratched the back of his neck as he struggled to get the words out. "I, uh― I have another thing―"

  Tony looked at him with a slightly tilted head. Peter took a deep breath.

  He had to do it. He had to ask him.

  "Can you get any files on my parents?"

  Tony's eyebrows shot upward in surprise. Peter quickly added an explanation.

  "I asked Agent Romanov first because she had the files when she first contacted me, but she said that she no longer has it. She told me to ask you, said that you got most of the files on all the Avengers after SHIELD's gone and all, so―" He shrugged his shoulders very awkwardly to look casual. "I― I was wondering if you had access to the files."

  Peter braced for all the prying questions that Tony looked very ready to ask.

  "Files on your parents?"

  Peter nodded. To his surprise, it was the only question that the man said.

  "That's nothing too hard," Tony said. "You heard that, JARVIS?"

  "Yes. Sending all files on May Parker and Richard Parker to Mr. Parker's computer."

  Peter blinked. It earned an amused look from Tony.

  "You do know that you can just ask JARVIS for this kind of thing?"

  Apparently, he didn't.

  "Uh, yeah," answered Peter dumbly. "Um, thanks, anyway."

  "You are welcome," Tony said in a mockingly polite manner. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a phone call to make."

  The elevator closed and left with a whirl, leaving Peter standing like an idiot.

  Empty glasses and bottles. Just like his own empty life.

  It was the only way Harry could get by through his days now. He couldn't fall asleep without his couple of glasses of whiskey as much as he couldn't get through his day without dozens of them. It was the only way to numb his pain and suppress his dread.

  Harry woke up to a voice calling his name. He moved his aching head and heavy limbs to look around. He could not find anyone.

  "Look up."

  When he did, a masked figure in a red-and-blue suit hung upside down from the ceiling of his penthouse. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. Maybe he was still dreaming ― dreaming out of his desperation. 

  He slowly raised himself up and sat on the couch he had been sleeping on. The weight of the limbs and pain through his nerves told him that it was more likely reality than a hallucination. And the thought sparked a flame of hope inside him. He smiled in glee as he watched Spider-Man lower himself from the ceiling to reach Harry's line of sight.

  "Heard a rumor that you were looking for me."

  Harry breathed out of relief and joy. 

  There was only one reason Spider-Man would have paid a visit.

  "I cannot believe my eyes."

  Spider-Man flipped himself and set himself right into the armchair across from Harry. 

  "You don't know how happy I am to see you, Spider-Man," said Harry. He stood up and took a seat on the couch right beside the armchair.

  "You, uh, talked to Peter?" Harry asked as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. However, this was not going to be the usual glass ― it was a toast to his new lifeline.

  "Not exactly 'talked'," Spider-Man answered. "But I heard him talk about you. And I thought I should come and talk to you."

  Harry waited expectantly. He waited for one thing.

  And Spider-Man said the one thing that he was desperate to hear.

  "I wanna help you, Mr. Osborn."

  Of course, you do. You're the hero. You're supposed to help people like me.

  "I really, really do."

  "Thank you, Spider-Man," said Harry. "Thank you."

  "That is why I can't give you my blood. Not just yet."

  Harry thought he was hearing things. Was he hearing things that he was not real?

  "I don't believe that's how I can  help you."

  There it was again.

  It was so confusing.

  "Excuse me?" Harry asked, frowning. 

  Spider-Man leaned forward.

  "It's too dangerous. If our blood is incompatible, you could die."

  "I'm already dying," Harry said bitterly. "Your blood can't make me die more."

  "But it could do something worse."

  Then it hit him. Harry could see it now. Or rather, he should have seen it earlier. Of course, Spider-Man wanted compensation. How stupid of him to think that he could just get a superhuman's blood without any cost?

  "Alright, how much?" He asked.

  "How much what?"

  "How much do you want? Name it. Name the price. You want a boat? A plane? You want money? How much do you want?"

  "It's not about money."

  "Come on, it's always about money! Everybody wants my money!"

  "Well, I don't."

  Then what was it that he wanted from him?

  "Let me finish explaining, Mr. Osborn."

  Harry glared at the man he once thought was his hope. 

  "I'm looking for a cure, okay?" Spider-Man said. "The reason you want my blood ― it's not to have you killed, right? It's to heal you, to have you live."

  Harry clenched his jaw, but did not say anything.

  "I just figured out that my blood could kill you or even turn you into some kind of a monster. Things are not as simple as you might hope. So I'm trying to find a way to separate the spider genes so that you can be healed without any side effects. But I need some time to figure out how to do that."

  "Alright, I see your point," said Harry. "But if that's the problem, you can just give me your blood so that I can try and develop the cure myself."

  "I― I'm afraid I can't do that."

  "Why not?" Harry's voice was trembling.

  "I can't risk you using the blood without developing a proper, safe cure."

  That was just bullshit.

  "For how long, exactly?"

  "I can't say for sure." Spider-Man's head hung low as if to convey his uncertainty. 

  "So you just expect me to wait? Doing nothing until I die?"

  "I promise," Spider-Man said. "I'll do anything to find a safe way to help you."

  But Harry was losing patience by the second. How was he supposed to just trust someone he didn't know to put his effort in developing a cure for him?

  It was all just empty words. Mere false hope.

  "I thought you― I thought you're supposed to save people. I thought that's what you do, is you save people's lives."

  "I am― I am trying to save you." Spider-Man stood up. "I really am―"

  "No," Harry growled, shaking his head slowly. "No, you are not. You're just trying to protect yourself. And you're just gonna let me die."

  "Please," Spider-Man said. "We just need a bit more time―"

  "I do not have time!"

   Harry picked up the whiskey bottle and threw it in rage. As Spider-Man swiftly avoided it, the glass bottle flew directly into the wall and shattered.

  "You just expect me to believe your word for it? You think I'm a fucking idiot? You're just buying yourself time, to pretend you're the hero. And then you're just gonna watch as I die."

  He stepped forward, inching into Spiderman and cornering him toward the wall. Spider-Man took a step back as Harry closed in on him.

  "No, Harry, I―"

  But Harry wasn't listening anymore. He picked up the largest glass shard from the floor and swished it across Spider-Man's face. Spider-Man easily dodged his attack.

  "You don't want to give me your damn blood? Fine! I'll just get it myself!"

  He wielded the glass piece like a knife as he tried to slash through Spider-Man's chest. He didn't even care how the sharp edge of the shard pierced his own skin. The masked hero jumped backward, stuck to the wall.

  "I'm sorry," he said. "But I promise you. I'll find a cure."

  Before Harry could do anything else, Spider-Man jumped out through the open window and disappeared from his sight

   Harry couldn't bear the fury any longer. He screamed and screamed.

  "You're a fraud, Spider-Man!"

  Tears of frustration and anger burst through his weary eyes. Everything was ruined. Everything was against him. He threw the table full of glasses and bottles to the floor. Everything on it shattered as they collided against the marvel flooring.

  Everything was shattered.

  Just like his own life. 

  It was not unusual for Steve to stop by the gym at late hours. Working his muscles out was the only way that he could cope in the world he could not recognize or understand. It helped him set his thoughts straight, vent his emotions and stress out, and give himself some time to refresh his mind and heart. Or sometimes, it was just a good enough pastime, too.

  Yet, with all the missions and other tasks that required his attention, he had less opportunity to spend his time on the punching bag outside his regular training schedule. The last time he had decided to hit the gym at this hour was almost a month ago.

  As Steve entered the empty training gym, the light came to life, revealing the last person he expected to see there.

  Peter quickly scrambled to his feet from where he was sitting down by the window.

  "Peter," Steve said.

  "Um, Cap― Captain," Peter greeted, fidgeting uncomfortably. "I― Sorry, I didn't think― I thought no one would come here around this time."

  "It's okay. It's an open gym for all of us. You can come here anytime you want," Steve said in a reassuring tone. "But what were you doing here? The lights were off."

  "Uh, yeah, I was just― I was just thinking." Peter scratched the back of his head. "Sometimes, I prefer having the lights off. It can get a bit― too much.."

  Peter looked incredibly uncomfortable as he tried hard to avoid Steve's eyes.

  "I, uh I gotta go anyway. Get back to the lab."

  "This late? Shouldn't you be home?"

  "Well, I have this project…." Peter trailed off. "My aunt's working a night shift, too, so I'm spending the night here, anyway. So... um, yeah. I gotta― I gotta go."

  He quickly paced past Steve. Just as he was about to reach the door, Steve called his name. Peter stopped in his tracks.

  "How about we go another round?"

  Peter turned his head to look at him with wide eyes. Steve raised his eyebrows in a challenging manner.

  "You know, it helps to punch something when you got a lot on your mind."

  The look Peter gave Steve seemed confused and unsure.

  "Coming from experience,?"

  Steve smiled.

  "What do you say?"

  Peter thought for a short moment.

  "Thanks for the offer, but um, I think I might have to pass up on that."

  He turned around once again to leave, but Steve had no intention to let him. 

  "Peter."

  Once again, the said teenager stopped and turned around. This time, he turned his entire body to face Steve fully. 

  "I'm not going to pretend to understand what you're going through in life." Steve chose his words carefully. "But I had my own experience of being alone ― wanting to be alone."

  He could clearly see that Peter was growing uncomfortable.

  "When my mother passed away," he paused briefly, "I felt like I lost everything. Like I was left alone in this world. All I could think was how to get by on my own."

  The memory from the day of her funeral brought its emotions with it. And it was even more hurting to think about it now when Bucky was a big part of it. 

  "But the thing is, you don't have to." The words that his best friend once told him slipped through Steve's lips. He felt a lump in his throat as he said it. He looked into Peter's eyes. "That's what my friend told me. And he's right. Just because you can do things alone, it doesn't mean that you have to."

  Peter pursed his lips as he digested the words. He rubbed his face quietly for a few seconds.

  "Was that the friend that you're looking for now? Sergeant Barnes?"

  Steve hung his head.

  "Yes," he answered, his voice low. 

  A silent moment of hesitation took over the two of them. 

  "He was your best friend," Peter said quietly. "That's what they said in the museum."

  "He was―" Steve corrected himself. "He is."

  "But he tried to kill you."

  "It's HYDRA, not him."

  "But he still came after you." There was a hesitation in Peter's eyes and voice. "How― how do you deal with that?"

  Something in the way the boy said it was deep and heavy. Steve studied Peter's face. Peter nervously avoided looking him in the eyes as if he was fighting himself to hold something back. Clearly, the teenager was fighting through streams of different emotions that were about to blow in one way or another. Peter was about to either spill everything or shut him out completely. This was the moment Steve was sure that he needed to push it.

    "Peter," said Steve. "You have people who care about you. You don't have to go through everything alone. But you're the one that has to make that choice. No one can help you if you keep yourself shut."

  Peter sighed deeply in the way he usually did whenever he felt frustrated. It also meant that he was about to snap at everyone around him. Yet, it wasn't the usual anger coursing through his figure.

  "Just―" Peter paused, attempting the right words to phrase his thoughts. "Just how do you― how do you―"

  Steve waited. The wall that the kid had been building around himself was finally cracking little by little.

  Peter ran his hands through his hair as he leaned against the doorframe.

  "I― I have this friend," he said. His voice was so small, conveying the uncertainty and reluctance that kept struggling to keep the words within himself to the last moment. "He's like my best friend from when we were kids."

  Steve leaned on the opposite side of the doorframe. He kept his silence to let the boy take his time and pace.

  "He's dying, and I'm the only one that can help him," Peter went on. His eyes were fixed downward, refusing to look at Steve. "He wants my blood, but he thinks that I'm not willing to help. That I'm not giving him my blood to protect myself."

  Another deep sigh.

  "But I really, really wanna help him. I've been trying to find a cure for him with my blood."

  Peter then rubbed his face.

  "I'm almost there― with the cure, but― I might be able to save him, finally―"

  He let out a humorless laugh.

  "Then I find out that I'm not supposed to give it over."

  Steve couldn't say that he was following what Peter was saying, but he knew that he couldn't interrupt him as of yet.

  "Everything's screwed up," said Peter. "I'm the only one― the only thing that can save my best pal, but I can't just give it to him because― because my parents died for that― to keep all that from the world, from their hands. And Gwen―"

  He ranted everything so quickly that Steve was pretty sure that he didn't even know what he was saying.

  "She's thinking of leaving for some― some famous school in England, but I can't do anything about it, because I have to stay away from her― because I have to keep the promise. And I just―" He shook his head. "I just don't know what to do."

  Peter buried his face in his hands. Steve crossed his arms across his chest and breathed out deeply. 

  "When I was fighting in the war, I had to make choices," he began slowly. "Obvious choices, or so I thought, because it was a war. It had people's lives on the line. Millions of people's lives. I knew it was my job as a soldier to put their lives first, even if it meant I had to give up on things that mattered to me the most."

  He paused briefly.

  "Ther was a woman. I promised her a dance, but― but I never got to keep that promise. I never got to return to her."

  Peter looked up at him.

  "Sometimes, it makes me think," Steve continued, "about the possibility that I could have chosen her. Maybe I could have escaped the plane and gone back to her. I regret giving up a chance to have a life with her."

  He pursed his lips.

  "I know that if I had to choose again, I would make the same choice that I made already. But I still regret it. And if I had chosen her, I would have still regretted not fulfilling my duties. It was a tough choice. Because I put it all on my own shoulders. I thought I had to be the one responsible for it all."

  Steve looked Peter in the eyes.

  "If I learned anything from it, it's that every choice comes with its own regret. Choosing also means giving up. But it is what decides the path of your life, and you are the one that has to make those choices. You have to think of what is best for you and your life."

  Peter's eyes glinted with a thin layer of tears. He looked away, sniffling.

  "Just remember that you don't have to put everything on your shoulders," Steve said. "You are not alone. You have people to rely on. It's not easy at first, I know, but you won't have a chance to get used to it unless you try it."

  He took a few steps toward him and placed his hand on Peter's shoulder.

  "Not one of us can push you into making a certain choice. But we are here to help you in any way we can."

  Steve didn't expect to get an answer from Peter. Thus, he was mildly surprised when Peter nodded, albeit without looking at him.

  "I know," the boy whispered.

  Gently patting him once on the shoulder, Steve offered a small smile.

  Peter's phone rang. Steve let go of his hold on him and let him answer his call. Peter pulled out his device and checked the caller ID.

  "Sorry, I, uh― I gotta get this," he said.

  At Steve's nod, Peter sniffled and cleared his throat as he hastily walked away from the man, answering the call. Steve made his way to the gym to give Peter privacy. Hearing Peter's voice fade as the said boy got on the elevator, he returned to his original plan for a quick workout. 

  The view of the early sunset looked beautiful with the sight of the city and the waters around it. But it didn't matter to Peter. He only focused on finishing his touches on the webbing. If his calculation was correct, Gwen was about to pass by.

  "Hey."

  "Hi. Um, can you talk for a minute?"

  "Yeah, sure. Mmhmm."

  "So, um, I got into Oxford."

  "Oh. Uh…. That's― that's great! Um, congr― congratulations."

  "I'm really excited. And um― there's this― early summer class that they're doing, and… and I thought that it would be… a… good way to get settled. For both of us. I just think that… maybe it's time to let this go. Because… because I love you, and I think this is the best for the both of us. Um, so… I'm leaving tomorrow. I thought I should― let you know."

  Peter had stayed up all night after the late phone call. Unable to focus on the work at hand, he only paced through the Stark lab, thinking about what he should do. And no matter how many scenarios and possibilities he thought of, he came back to only one conclusion.

  Finishing the letters up, he hurried and made his way to the Manhattan Bridge. Sitting on top of it, he checked his message on the ropes of the Brooklyn Bridge. The eight letters he had just created shone against the slowly disappearing sunlight.

  I LOVE YOU

  His senses shot through his brain. He snapped his head toward where they were pointing at. There she was ― Gwen was just getting out of a yellow taxi. She walked over to the edge of the bridge as if to get a better look at the words. People were gathering around her, pointing at the webbed letters, but Peter's eyes were only on Gwen. He immediately jumped off and swung through the crowd, snatching his girl in his arm. With a sharp yelp, Gwen's arms wrapped around his neck instinctively and so naturally. Peter carried the two of them to the tip of the tower of the Manhattan Bridge.

  "Hi," Peter said, holding Gwen close to himself.

  "Hi," Gwen breathed. She was smiling so brightly up at him.

  "Did you get my message?"

  "What message?"

  "That one right there." Peter jerked his head toward the other bridge.

  "Oh, that." Gwen giggled teasingly. "That was you? I couldn't make that out."

  But Peter couldn't even smile. His heart was bursting with emotions.

  "I love you. That's what it says. I love you."

  And he could see that she was feeling just about the same as himself.

  "You once said that we're on different paths," he said. "That's wrong. Because we're not on different paths. How can we be on different paths when you're my path? You're always gonna be my path."

  Gwen leaned closer to him.

  "And I know there's a million reasons why we shouldn't be together. I know that. But I'm tired of them. I'm tired of thinking too much about everything. And we've all gotta make a choice. Well, I finally made mine. I choose you."

  Gwen looked up at him with so much love and care in her eyes. It finally brought a smile to Peter's face as well.

  "So, you're going to England," said Peter.

  Gwen nodded.

  "And I'll be there with you."

  She let out a laugh.

  "I'm following you now. I'm just gonna follow you everywhere. I'm just gonna follow you for the rest of my life."

  Gwen's hold on him tightened.

  "I mean, they got crime there in England, right? They got tons of crime, it seems."

  "Yeah," she said with excited nods. "Tons."

  "I mean, they've got Jack the Ripper. They haven't caught Jack the Ripper yet―"

  Before he could say anything more, Gwen shut him up with an instant kiss. 

  Things couldn't be any better. Well, that was until Peter's spider senses went off crazily and the city began to lose its lights. Literally.

  "Is that― Max?" Gwen said alarmingly. "He must have cut the power to the whole city."

  "There's gotta be some kind of blackout plan, right? Some kind of back-up?"

  "There is an emergency reset at the power plant. If he cuts the transmission lines, they're never gonna get this back up."

  Peter began to think hard. "How am I gonna stop him? Every time I get close, he fries my web-shooters." 

  "Have you tried grounding them?"

  "I've tried everything ― rubber, plastic―"

  "What about magnetizing them?"

  "I did― not try magnetizing them."

  "Okay, well, remember eighth-grade science class?" Gwen said teasingly with a smug look. "If you magnetize a nail with a battery―"

  "It holds an electric charge." Peter tried hard not to roll his eyes at the sassy look she gave him.

  A series of crashes and collective screams echoed through different parts of the city. Peter held Gwen tightly in his arm as he swung through the streets overtaken by darkness.

  "Do not panic, everyone! Please return to your vehicles! Go back to your cars! Remain calm!"

  Even with the plea from police officers, people were running around in chaos, screaming in panic. 

  "Officer!" Peter called to one of them as he ran toward him.

  "Spider-Man!" The police officer's response through the megaphone assaulted Peter's ears.

  While Peter recovered from the ringing in his ears, Gwen stepped up. 

  "My father was Captain George Stacy of the 19th Precinct," she told the officer.

  "Yeah, I know who he was," he answered. "What can we do for you?"

  "Jumper cables," she said.

  "Jumper cables?" 

  "Yes, and copper wire."

  "Am I talking louder than I usually talk right now?" Peter yelled. The shot of the megaphone was stronger than he had thought.

  "Yes." Gwen nodded with a slight frown.

  With the help of the policeman, the couple quickly worked with the equipment to upgrade Peter's web shooters.

  "Alright, do it!"

  Gwen connected the wire from the police car's battery to the web shooters. A big spark popped from each of them, which made her yelp in surprise.

  "Okay, good. Try, try, try. Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry," Peter ranted. 

  Gwen pulled out a set of keys from her pocket and placed it on his web shooter. They stuck to it right away.

  "Okay, it works. Good," said Peter, holding his wrist upside down to make sure.

  "And that is why you were number two at Midtown," Gwen said with a proud smirk.

  "Rub it in? Okay," Peter deadpanned. 

  With a sudden spark and noise, an electric current ran through a cable on a nearby building, popping a store sign from its spot. 

  "Alright, I gotta go," said Peter.

  "I'm coming with you," Gwen answered immediately.

  "Gwen, you're not coming with me."

  "Yes, I am."

  "No," said Peter in a warning tone. "It's too dangerous."

  "I'm coming with you." She remained stubborn. "I've seen the grid specs and I know how to reset the entire system." 

  "Gwen, no."

  "I'm coming with you. You need me!"

  Peter needed a different strategy.

  "Okay, okay," he said in a resigned voice. "Alright, you're coming with me. Just shut this thing first." He pointed to the open hood of the police car.

  Gwen gave him a look before she placed her hand on the hood's cover.

  Bingo.

  Instantly, Peter shot a webbing on Gwen's hand. It stuck her right to the car even before she could realize what had happened.

  "Sorry. I love you. Don't hate me!" He shot himself upward with webs, heading toward the powerplant. 

  Ugh. Everything hurt.

  Where were the Avengers when people needed them? 

  Then again, Peter didn't know how he would have reacted if they did show up. This was his fight, after all ― he was the one that had issues with Max personally. Yet, it was also true that he could have used a bit of their help. It was the most difficult fight he had ever been in. Although he did not want to admit it, he would not have been able to win it without Gwen's help (at least not as soon as he did).

  As he laid among the rubbles, Peter groaned, catching his breath. Even with his enhanced physicality and healing abilities, getting shocked by a high voltage of electricity multiple times was not an easy feat. He could just lie there for the entire night, getting some rest.

  Something swooshed in the distance. Peter raised his head up, searching the dark sky above him. It was the sound of something flying ― a machine of some sort, to be specific.

  Forcing his nearly-drained energy, Peter pushed himself off the ground. Just as he got back to his feet, a man with a pair of mechanical wings flew downward. Peter almost fell back on his back with relief. At least it wasn't another enemy for him to fight.

  Sam Wilson retracted his wings as he looked around the remains of what was once a functioning powerplant. 

  "Looks like I'm a bit late," he said.

  "You think?" Peter breathed, struggling to stand. Stretching his sore muscles, he looked at the newcomer. "What are you doing here?"

  "Supposedly helping you out," answered Sam. "Cap's on his way, too, though he's caught up in traffic. And Stark's out of town for some issues with his company."

  Peter wasn't sure if he was supposed to be happy or disturbed by the intervention of the Avengers. He never had a real chance to face someone alongside them, so he still didn't really know how to behave around them in a fight.

  The doors to the control center opened, and Gwen walked out.

  "Who's that?" Sam asked, looking at Peter.

  Peter was not sure if he was ready to reveal his personal relationship to the team.

  "That, um, That's―"

  He cut off his own sentence as a dangerous feeling shot through his spine.

  Disturbing laughter echoed through the smoke around them, followed by a swooshing sound of a flying machine.

  "What's that?" Sam asked, trying to find where it was all coming from.

  Peter's instincts snapped his head toward Gwen, who also looked up to the sky with an alarmed face.

  "Stay there," Peter said, raising his hand toward her as he looked around with sharpened senses. 

  A small glider descended from above them, carrying a man on it.

  Peter's heart stopped. The person looked too familiar for his liking. He wanted to deny it with all his heart.

  "Harry?" He breathed.

  Harry looked disturbingly different. Black venins covered all the visible parts of his skin, and his usually well-groomed hair looked rough and rigid as it was messily swept back. His teeth were much sharper than those of a natural human's and were covered in disturbing dark substances. The green armor-type of suit that he was wearing was not giving off a positive atmosphere, either.

  Harry grinned wickedly at Peter. Sam's wings shot out from his pack, ready to take off at any moment. Harry looked at him as well before turning around to look at Gwen. The smile on his face fell slowly as he looked back and forth between Peter and Gwen.

  Then he laughed sinisterly.

  "You," he snarled. "It's you, isn't it?"

  "Harry," Peter said in disbelief. 

  "It was you all along," Harry said. "You said Spider-Man said no. But it was you."

  "I take it you know each other?" Sam quipped.

  "Harry, what did you do?"

  "What you made me do. You were my friend." Harry's grin distorted with anger. "And you betrayed me!"

  "No." Peter shook his head. "I was trying to protect you. And the cure― it's almost ready. I was― I was going to give it to you―"

  "Shut up," growled Harry. "Stop lying to me."

  "No, I'm not lying―"

  "Look at me." Harry sounded broken. He looked broken. 

  "Hey, hey, hey, hey," Peter took a step closer toward his friend, his hands stretched outward in a calming motion. "It's gonna be okay. This is gonna be all right. We'll find a way to turn you back."

  "I said, STOP LYING!"

  Peter froze in his spot while Sam placed his hands on his holsters. 

  "You don't give people hope," said Harry. "You only take it away."

  He steered his glider lower and closed in on Peter's face.

  "No, Harry," Peter whispered, looking into Harry's pained and lunacy-filled eyes.

  "And I," Harry snarled right before his eyes. "am gonna take away yours."

  "No, Harry, no!" 

  Harry turned himself around and sped his glider. 

  "Gwen, RUN!" Peter screamed at the top of his lungs. 

  Just as Gwen took off, Harry got a hold of her. With a scream, she was swept up into the air.

  Peter jumped forward and shot his webs to pull himself into the air. Sam also kicked off the ground. His wings flapped in big motion, and he soared after Harry's glider. 

  "Harry, please!" Peter cried after his friend. "Harry, put her down!"

  Sam pulled his guns out and shot in harry's direction, but didn't make a single hit on his target. Harry flew through the powerplant until he reached the clock tower. He flew around it and spiraled upward. Peter climbed up the tower, shooting his webs at Harry's glider, only to fail at reaching him. 

  "Harry, stop this right now! This isn't you!" Peter pleaded, standing on top of the tower. "This is not you! Harry, put her down!"

  "Put her down, or I will open fire!" Sam said as he held out his guns at him.

  "You fire, and I break her neck right now!" Harry growled at him."

  "Harry," Gwen joined in.

  "Harry is dead!" Harry snarled through gritted teeth.

  "Harry, this is between you and me!" Peter yelled. "You wanna fight? Fight me! Let her go!"

  Harry looked down at Peter. Then he dropped Gwen without waiting for another second.

  "NO!"

  Peter jumped up, reaching for her. He grabbed her in the air and held her in his arms. He shielded her from the glass windows as his back collided and shattered through them.

  The moment Harry dropped the hostage, Sam shot his guns at him, which he easily evaded. Then he threw a small round glowing object at the winged man. It exploded midair, throwing Sam off his balance with its impact. Using the moment of his recovery as an opportunity, Harry threw another bomb into the clock tower before speeding down after it, heading straight for Peter. Peter managed to get Gwen out of the explosion's reach. He placed her on one of the enormous cogwheels before he braced himself for Harry's assault. He jumped upward, evading Harry's glider, and used his webs to shoot himself toward his friend. While he was engaged in the full-on battle against Harry, Sam also entered the clock tower from above.

  "Get Gwen to safety!" Peter yelled in between his moves.

  "Got it!"

  Sam zoomed past the two figures immersed in combat. His wings having been retracted due to the lack of sufficient space, he maneuvered the jetpack to hover around.

  Peter kicked Harry hard in the chest, which threw him off the glider. He bumped hard into one of the metal structures and fell  But it resulted in the now pilot-less glider dropping right into the cogwheel that Gwen was standing on. It broke hard and fell freely to the ground.

  "Shit!" Sam gritted as he powered up his jet pack.

  Peter shot his web toward Gwen. It reached her faster than Sam did, and she held onto it with her hand. Just as he was pulling her up, however, Harry jumped on top of him and began to choke his neck. Peter held on to the web with one hand while he tried to pry Harry off with the other.

  "Got her!"

  Thankfully, Sam called from below him. As if to prove, he shot upward past where Peter was. Gwen was held safely in his arms as he shot up through the hole in the glass roof. Once he was out in the open, he opened up his wings again and flew off. Harry's eyes also looked upward at Sam, and it provided enough distraction for Peter to kick him in the stomach with both legs. Harry's grip on him loosened as he was thrown backward. He quickly jumped up to his feet again. The two of them stood on a moving cogwheel, facing each other.

  "This has to stop, Harry," Peter tried once more. "You can stop this now. And we'll get help for you. I promise."

  "I don't need help," Harry snarled. "I just need to destroy you."

  Then he threw himself off the edge of the gear toward the deep darkness of a hundred feet.

  "Harry!" Peter jumped after him.

  Something shot upward from below. Peter had to roll over mid-fall to avoid getting hit by the speeding glider. Peter threw himself to one side and stuck to the nearest wall. He watched Harry flying upward toward the broken glass roof.

  "You won't be able to save her this time, Peter!" Harry looked down and yelled with a cackle.

  Peter's blood turned cold in an instant. He kicked himself off the wall and pulled himself up with his webs, chasing after Harry. When he finally got out of the clock tower, Harry was already flying off into the distance.

  Peter frantically looked around for any sign of Gwen and Sam. Thankfully, they were both standing by the police car that Gwen had driven to the scene. Peter was about to let out a sigh of relief when―

  Wait a second. If Gwen was safe, then where was Harry headed? Was he just running away? But he clearly said that Peter won't be able to save―

  All the senses in his body exploded at once. Harry wasn't going for Gwen.

  He was going for Aunt May. 

  Oh, no.

  No.

  No.

  No.

  No.

  NO!

  "SAM!" Peter yelled. The man looked at him. Peter shot a pair of webs on the nearby structure to slingshot himself. "We have to go after him! He's going for Aunt May!"

  Sam nodded.

  "Now, you get out of here and get yourself to safety," he told Gwen.

  Even before he finished his sentence, Gwen complied by getting onto the police car and starting it. Only then did Peter finally shoot himself forward with the tension of the webs. Sam followed him with his wings wide open to his sides.

  "Where exactly is he going?" Sam asked.

  "Queens General Hospital!" Peter answered.

  "Cap!" he heard Sam yelling. "Cap, you read me? There's a weirdo on a glider heading for Queens General Hospital. Yeah, we're on our way there now. We'll meet you there."

  Come on, come on, come on, come on.

  Faster. FASTER!

  Peter forgot all the pain and exhaustion in his muscles as he pushed himself harder and harder. He was only barely catching up to Harry's speed. He needed to be a lot faster if he were to catch him before he did anything drastic.

  Fortunately, Sam was a bit faster as he was literally flying rather than swinging like Peter was. They passed through Brooklyn in a rush and were just a few blocks away from their destination―

  A round object flew upward from below. Harry quickly swerved to the side to avoid it just by an inch, but it deterred his speed momentarily. It helped Sam and Peter catch up to him a little more. The object fell back down to the ground, and as it did, the streetlights revealed the red, blue, and white pattern of Captain America's shield.

  Peter could see the hospital building not far away. By then, Sam had nearly caught up to Harry and was about to shoot him down with his guns.

  "No!" Peter cried. "Don't shoot him! He's my friend!"

  "Relax, kid!" Sam growled. "It's not lethal!"

  Yet, Harry made a sharp turn and avoided all the bullets from Sam's guns. He then jumped off his gliders, landing on top of the building that was just across from the hospital building. As Sam was right on Harry's tail, the glider flew right toward his face. He had to roll to his side to avoid it. With its rider gone, the glider soon lost its power and fell to a nearby rooftop.

  Harry, in the meantime, lept for the hospital building. He flew into one of its windows, shattering the glass. Peter chased after him and flew right into the same broken window. 

  People screamed at the terrifying intruder making his way through the hospital's hallway, smashing and throwing everything and everyone that got in his way. Peter threw himself and tackled Harry from behind him. The two of them fell to the floor, wrestling against each other. Harry pulled out a small dagger, swishing and stabbing it uncontrollably. Avoiding the blade, Peter pulled himself up with the webs he shot toward the ceiling and smashed back down onto him. The floor cracked beneath his feet, and he and Harry fell straight through it to the floor below them. People screamed and scrambled away. One of the voices among them was familiar to Peter's ears. Despite the situation, Peter couldn't help but turn his head around to where his aunt was standing with wide eyes. She was standing against the wall of the hallway, breathing hard and watching the two with pure fear on her face. 

  It was as if the time was slowing down, a mere second expanding into a full minute. 

  But it was a second too long. Using his distraction as an advantage, Harry threw his dagger straight at her. Peter's reflex reacted even before he was aware of it. His webbing chased after the flying dagger, reaching for the blade. It successfully stuck to its handle when the tip of the blade was only an inch away from her chest. Peter pulled the web with all his might, thinking only of saving her.

  It was a diversion.

  Peter realized it a second too late. The sound of the round glowing metal bomb hitting the floor and the rhythmical beepings echoed in his ears. It rolled over toward Aunt May and stopped right at her feet.

  Beep. Beep.

  Beep beep beep beep.

  Beebeebeebeebeebeep.

  Peter threw himself toward the bomb.

  Harry was laughing hysterically from where he was lying on the floor.

  BOOM.