Fun Fact: I frickin hate Namor the sub-mariner and he therefore does not exist here. Screw 'em.

As the group approached the house, Paul in the lead, Peter was hit with a realization, "Penn, we are SO grounded."

"Yeah but at least its for a reason other than breaking curfew."

Gene gave them both a surprised look, "You two break curfew? Regularly?" When they nodded affirmation he snorted, "Funny, you two don't strike me as the type. Above average students, generally respectful to teachers, and nice. Now Raven there might be the type."

Peter gave Gene a strange look, "Um...thanks? I think?"

Raven shrugged, "I mean...yeah. I sneak out a lot. I take Penny with me because she's usually down for an adventure..."

"Adventure is the best!"

Peter pinched the bridge of his nose, "Raven, you corrupted my baby sister."

Raven laughed and Penny looked at her brother indignantly, "You are literally older than me by five minutes!"

"I'm still older though, so you are TECHNICALLY my baby sister" The group walked inside, "Besides, you act younger...which, come to think of it, makes sense because we all treat you like you're younger."

Aunt May frowned at them from the kitchen doorway, "I got a call from the school and I have just one thing to say..."

Except for Paul, who was innocent this once, they all looked guilty. Even Gene who had never met May before.

"Who wants milk and lemon cake?" She noticed the surprised look on Peter and Penny's faces, "I'm not going to punish you two for defending another person. That's how Ben and I raised you and how we hoped all three of you kids would be. Now come and get some cake!"

She shook Gene's hand, "I'm Mrs. Parker or Miss May whichever you prefer."

"I'm Gene."

"Nice to meet you" the elderly woman squeezed Raven's shoulder as she walked past, "How are you Rachel?"

Raven smiled at her, "I'm good Miss May, how are you?"

"Oh, I can't complain" After the teens went into the kitchen, May called after Paul, who was leaving "You can have cake too if you want dear."

Paul paused in the doorway, a guilty look on his face, "No thanks Aunt May. I actually have to run, my next class is starting soon and then I have work."

May hid her disappointment and smiled at her oldest great-nephew, "Alright. Say hello to Eddie for me."

"Sure."

Later that evening

Penny was lying on her back, the science book on her face, "Raaaaveeeen..."

Raven replied in the exact same tone, "Whhhaaaatt?" She typed rapidly on her laptop.

"I hate this."

"Same. Did you find any more information on micro evolution?"

"I don't know, words have lost all meaning."

Raven sighed and hung her head back, "I know right? How about you type and I read, we only need one more page."

Penny nodded, "Its better than trying to read."

After a half hour of mind numbing boredom, Penny cried out triumphantly, "Done!"

"Thank Azarath" Raven closed the book and looked at Penny, "Now, how do you want to do patrol tonight?"

"Peter says we should do it together, in order to get used to working as a team. Honestly, I think that's best, the last time we were out of sync and nearly got ourselves killed."

"Guess that's what we're doing then. I wonder how Peter and that Gene kid are getting along?"

"It's Peter, they're probably fine."

Gene and Peter had finished an hour ago.

"-And that's how I got kicked out of boarding school."

"Because you punched a kid that called you a half-breed? That's justifiable, I'd have punched him too!"

Gene shrugged, "The teachers were racist too, go figure. The only good thing to come out of that experience is that I have NO patience for people like Burton because of it. People are people, treat them like it."

Peter nodded, "Amen. So where are you from?" His eyes widened in realization, "Oh crap! I meant..."

The other boy chuckled, "You're fine Pete I knew what you meant. I live in Chinatown with family friends of my mother but if you want to go further back than that I was born in Mongolia. You from here originally?"

"Born and raised, though I spend some time in the Adirondacks with my mom's sister Jill every summer. The fresh air is awesome!"

"If you don't mind my asking, why don't you live with her? Your Aunt is quite bit older I'm guessing."

Peter shrugged, "Its fine, I get that a lot when people find out" He sighed, "The social workers thought Uncle Ben and Aunt May would be more stable and Jill is...well...not stable. At the time she worked on a crab fishing boat, which is SUPER risky, and now she's a trapper. Don't get me wrong, she is a certifiable badass and we love her but she takes a lot of risks and is antisocial to boot, so there's that."

Gene nodded, "Yeah, that makes sense" He checked his phone, "My cousin is here. Good talking to you Parker, we should do it again sometime."

NYC 8:56 pm.

The Black Spider read the message 'Objective: send the spiders and the witch a message tonight- Tombstone.'

He grinned beneath the mask, "With pleasure."