Chapter Text
The mission wasn’t supposed to be difficult. In fact, Peter was feeling pretty relaxed about it—maybe even a little too relaxed. The real curiosity nagging at him wasn’t about the mission itself but about the new guy joining their team. All Peter knew was that his name was ‘Iron Fist,’ and honestly, that wasn’t enough for him. He had been pestering Doctor Strange for days, trying to get more information.
“Come on, you can’t just give me one clue?” Peter asked, trailing after Strange like an overly excited puppy. “Or wait—what about charades? I’m great at those. Is he tall? Short? Give me something!”
Strange let out a long, tired sigh, rubbing his temples. “Parker, you are… exhausting.” He glanced over his shoulder. “You’ll meet him soon enough. And no, I’m not playing charades with you.”
Peter groaned dramatically, throwing his arms up in defeat. “I just want to get a feel for the guy! No one’s saying anything! All I know is his name—and not even his real name. Iron Fist? What does that even mean?”
Strange shot him a pointed look but chose not to engage in the name debate. “You’ll find out when he gets here. In the meantime, try not to bombard him with a thousand questions the second you see him.”
Peter pouted but nodded, understanding that pushing any further wasn’t going to get him anywhere. “Fine, fine. I’ll behave. Sort of.”
He walked off, still grumbling under his breath. This whole mystery teammate thing was driving him nuts. He was used to knowing the people he worked with—used to figuring them out in the first five minutes of meeting them. But Iron Fist? The guy was a complete mystery, and that only made Peter more determined to find out what his deal was.
As Peter headed to his room to gear up, his mind raced with theories. “What if he’s some kind of alien warrior?” he muttered to himself, adjusting his suit. “Or maybe he’s, like, an actual statue? Everyone’s names seem pretty literal around here… well, except for Doctor Strange.”
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat behind him.
Peter turned around, and to his surprise, there stood a man about his age with a calm, composed presence. “Oh, uh, hey,” Peter stammered, blinking rapidly.
“Sorry,” the man said, his voice firm but polite. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just… going around introducing myself. You must be Spider-Man.”
Peter straightened up, suddenly feeling a little off-balance. This was Iron Fist? He had been imagining something totally different. “Uh, yeah! That’s me. Spider-Man. Or, you know, Spidey. Or… Peter, actually.” He realized he was rambling and quickly shut his mouth, mentally kicking himself.
The man smiled politely, though he looked a little flustered himself. “I’m Lin Lie. You can just call me Lie.”
Peter grinned, feeling a bit more at ease now. “Lie, huh? Cool name. So, you’re the new guy everyone’s been talking about.”
Lie nodded, glancing around, looking a little unsure of himself. “I guess so. It’s been… an adjustment.”
Peter chuckled, folding his arms. “Yeah, I know the feeling. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. We’re all one big, dysfunctional family here.”
Lie gave a small smile at that, the tension between them easing slightly. “Thanks. That’s good to hear.”
Peter nodded, feeling a sense of relief that Lie didn’t seem like the intimidating figure he’d built up in his head. In fact, Lie seemed… normal. Maybe even a little nervous, like Peter was when he first joined up with the team.
They stood there for a moment, an awkward silence settling in. Peter tried not to stare at Lie too much—he was still wrapping his head around the fact that this was the guy he’d been so curious about.
Finally, Lie spoke up again, a hint of nervousness in his voice. “So… do you always wear the suit, or…?”
Peter looked down at himself, suddenly remembering that he was still in his Spider-Man gear. “Oh! Uh, yeah, I kind of forget sometimes. The suit’s like a second skin at this point.” He scratched the back of his head. “But, hey, you’re part of the team now, so I guess it’s cool that you know.”
Lie nodded, still looking a little embarrassed, but his posture relaxed a bit. “Yeah, I guess we’re all getting to know each other.”
“Exactly!” Peter said with a grin. “So, no big deal. We’re practically best friends now.” He gave Lie a playful nudge, trying to lighten the mood.
Lie chuckled, though he still seemed a bit unsure. “Right. Best friends.” He gave Peter a small thumbs-up before slowly backing out of the room, clearly trying to exit the conversation gracefully. “See you on the mission, Spidey.”
Peter waved as the door closed behind Lie, and as soon as he was gone, Peter let out a long breath. “What just happened?”
His heart was still racing, and his mind was spinning. He had been so sure Iron Fist would be some kind of terrifying warrior, but instead, he was… well, kind of a regular guy. A regular, very good-looking guy. And that thought left Peter feeling way more flustered than he cared to admit.
“Okay, focus, Parker,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head. “It’s just a teammate. A super chill, ridiculously handsome teammate, but still. Just a teammate.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. This is going to be more complicated than I thought...
After Peter’s awkward encounter with Lie, he needed to clear his head. Swinging through the streets was always the best way to refocus himself before a mission. The city’s air hit him in quick gusts as he leaped from building to building, webbing up across the skyline like a second skin. His mind raced with thoughts of Lin. He’s a cool guy, polite too. But why did I get so flustered? Peter shook his head, swinging faster, trying to push the awkward moment out of his brain.
He came to a stop on the edge of the base, ready to take a break, but something caught his eye—a figure moving swiftly on the rooftop across from him. At first, Peter squinted, wondering if it was some random rooftop runner, but no… it was him. Lin Lie—Iron Fist—was practicing, moving through forms with smooth, deliberate motions. His body flowed like water, yet each punch and kick carried a kind of power Peter could practically feel even from this distance.
Peter crouched down, resting his chin on his hand. He couldn’t help but watch, fascinated. No web-slinging, no gadgets… just raw skill. Peter admired how Lie’s muscles flexed and how effortlessly he transitioned from one stance to another. Okay, okay, stop staring, Peter told himself, but his curiosity wasn’t letting up. How does he make it look so easy?
But then it happened. Lie paused mid-punch and turned his head toward Peter’s direction. Their eyes met. Peter’s heart jumped into his throat. Of course he saw me. Stupid Spider-senses must’ve taken the day off.
Peter stood up straight, laughing awkwardly. “Oh, hey! Fancy seeing you here!” he called out, trying to sound casual as if he hadn’t been gawking for the past minute.
Lie raised an eyebrow but offered a polite smile, wiping sweat from his brow. “You were watching me?”
Peter leaped across the gap between their rooftops, landing lightly next to Lie. “Oh, I wasn’t… well, okay, yeah, I guess I was.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just, uh, warming up before the mission, you know?”
Lie chuckled, shaking his head, seemingly amused by Peter’s honesty. “No harm done. I was just finishing up. I like to get some training in before heading out—it clears my mind.”
“Yeah, same here!” Peter said quickly. “Except I swing around like a hyperactive bug, and you… well, you do all this kung fu magic stuff.” He gestured at Lie’s form, still impressed. “Do you do this kind of thing all the time?”
Lie nodded. “It’s part of my discipline. The Iron Fist isn’t just about strength—it’s about focus. My training helps me center myself, so when we’re out there, I can channel my energy properly.”
Peter blinked, his mind already trying to process that. “Right… focus. I could probably use some of that.” He gestured to himself. “I kind of wing it most of the time.”
Lie gave him a small smile. “You don’t seem like the kind of person who lacks focus. You’ve got a reputation.”
Peter scratched his head. “Oh, well, thanks… I guess.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I’m just a guy in a spandex suit trying not to get my butt kicked. You’ve got this whole ‘mystical warrior’ thing going on. What’s it like being the Iron Fist?”
Lie paused, as if thinking carefully. “It’s not something I chose. It’s something I was given, a responsibility to protect others.” His voice was calm but carried a weight to it. “But… it’s more than just fighting. It’s about understanding the balance between power and control.”
Peter nodded, a bit more serious now. “I get that. With great power, right? Sometimes I wonder if I’m doing enough or if I’m just messing things up along the way.”
Lie’s expression softened. “We all doubt ourselves, Spidey. The key is to keep moving forward.” He glanced at the cityscape, then back at Peter. “But from what I’ve heard, you’re doing more than enough.”
Peter grinned, feeling a little less embarrassed now. “Thanks, man. Coming from you, that means a lot. Maybe I’ll learn a thing or two about balance from watching you more.”
“Just try not to spy next time,” Lie teased, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
Peter raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I wasn’t spying! I was… observing. There’s a difference.”
Before they could continue, a bright flash of energy appeared nearby, and Dr. Strange stepped out of a glowing portal. He looked at the two of them with a deadpan expression. “If you two are done bonding, we need to go. Now.”
Peter shot Lie a quick glance, giving him a thumbs-up. “Alright, guess that’s our cue.” He turned to Strange. “Lead the way, Doc.”
Lie and Peter followed Strange through the portal, side by side. As they stepped into the mission, Peter felt a little more at ease, knowing he had a solid new teammate in Lie—someone who wasn’t just strong, but someone who understood the weight of responsibility, just like him.