Awwww, look at all the cute fav.s and follows. Thank you!
Still amn't rich enough to own any franchises.., fingers crossed though.
Peter stayed with Steve in the park for another hour before he eventually headed on.
When he got home he texted Natasha his address and asked if it was OK if he brought someone else with him. After she replied with an 'OK' he proceeded to text Clint and tell him that he'd found two more players. Clint replied quickly, stating that he'd been able to get one more person himself and that he had another person who was a maybe.
-TIME SKIP AND POV CHANGE TO STEVE—
Steve had arrived early, 8:30 on the dot. Ok, so maybe two hours early was a bit ridiculous, he was just so happy...and nervous. From what Peter said about the game, it sounded like a mock war game where you were only shot with paint. He wondered how he'd react to the situation. Mentally it felt like the war happened only yesterday and his time here in the future was a weird dream. He hoped he didn't do anything stupid. He was still acclimatizing to everything. Everything here in the 21st century was so advanced, moved so quickly, he'd already missed so much that he really didn't want to miss anymore.
He'd been standing outside Peter's house for ten minutes when the door opened.
"Oh! Hello, who are you?" An old lady, ('Aunt May', she's Peter's Aunt, Steve's mind supplied), said. Steve straightened to face her.
"Hello there ma'am. My name's Steve, I'm a friend of Peters. He said to meet him here, we're going paintballing later, but I seem to have arrived a bit early." He replied, looking a little sheepish.
"Well, you'll be waiting a lot longer. My boy may be a genius but he's as slow as a wet week to waking in the morning. I'm about to head to the shop to collect a few things for breakfast, would you like to join me?" She said, closing the door behind her and walking down the steps to stand beside him. (She muttered something about 'young one's these days, being so tall' and 'when did Peter have such handsome friends' and a 'if only I was a few years younger'. Steve blushed, his advanced hearing picking up every word.)
"Only if you don't mind the company. I'm afraid I tend to walk a little slow, everyone's always in a rush, I like to take my time." He said said, giving her a small smile.
"I know exactly what you mean. You're a man after my own heart." She said shaking off the slightly glazed look on her face at his angelic smile.
"Ok then, let's go, it's about a ten minute walk usually, but I'm gonna try and drag this walk out." She said turning to head down the road. When he'd caught up to her, she asked.
"Now tell me, how do you know my Peter."
-TIME SKIP AND POV CHANGE TO PETER—
Thankfully the scanner had been quiet last night. So Peter actually managed to get some decent sleep, he woke easily when his alarm went off at ten, giving him at least, half an hour before Natasha would arrive. After falling out of bed, he grabbed some clothes and ran across the hall to the bathroom to take a shower.
Now showered and dressed he headed downstairs. He could smell the bacon frying from here his mouth watering, he let the smell guide him to the kitchen. He was slightly stunned to see Steve in the Kitchen chatting to Aunt May, like old friends.
"Ah Peter, there you are! I was just telling Steve about the time we were heading to the neighbours Halloween party and we passed that couple that had a flat tire."
"Oh yeah, An Uncle Ben was dressed as a the sugar-plum fairy; pink tutu, hairy chest and all!God, i'd completely forgotten about that." Peter said smiling back at his Aunt.
"I've left your breakfast over by the cooker and there's extra if you want it. We've already eaten."
He collected him plate and took a seat at the counter beside his Aunt
"Hey Steve, how you doing? You ready for today? Hope you weren't waiting long."
"No he just arrived a few minutes ago, I invited him inside to wait." Aunt May answered. Steve smiled at her.
Peter sensing he was missing something private just shrugged his shoulders and dug into his food. He listened to them talk and put in a word every now and then, but mainly concentrated on eating, he had a feeling he'd need the energy today. He ended up finishing off two plates of toast, bacon and eggs fairy quickly.
"I swear Peter, someday I will find out where you put all that food." Aunt May said shaking her head, before taking his plate from him. Peter grinned back at her, she was always amazed at how much he ate these days.
He felt his phone vibe in his pocket and took it out.
"Looks like Natasha's outside, you ready to go?" He said rising to stand. Seeing Steve nod, he turned to his Aunt muttered a goodbye before kissing her cheek and heading out towards the door. He was walking down the steps when Steve caught up to him.
"Your Aunt is one hell of a lady." Steve said.
"I know." Was all he responded.
Peter gave quick introductions when they were all in the car. He noticed Natasha's eyes narrow slightly when he said Steve's name. Peter briefly panicked, worried that she knew who Steve really was. When she didn't react further he relaxed. The journey was mainly silent, they listened to the radio and Peter explained certain references that Steve didn't get, without being too obvious.
They made it to the the place in record time. Natasha was one hell of a driver.
They were only waiting five minutes before Peter heard his name being called.
He turned to see Clint and a large group of guys following him.
"Hey Peter, you ready for this?" Clint asked.
"More like are you ready to get beaten again?" Peter shot back.
"Hey! That's only because we ran out off time that day, I'll so beat you next time. And anyways, that was in a hall, we'll see how you do against the real thing." Clint said confidently. "Oh yeah, one of the guys got called in to work so we're one person down, one team is gonna be short. How about we just introduce everyone and pick the teams, then head in and start this thing." Seeing everyone nod, he started to introduce the others.
Clint had brought eight players including himself; Len, Joe, Mark, Ethan, Oliver, Paul, Sam. Peter then introduced Natasha and Steve and himself, Peter noted how Clint's head shot up when he introduced Natasha and then how his eyes widened when he mentioned Steve.
Ethan became the first captain and Clint quickly asked to be the second.
Ethan chose first, getting Oliver. Clint chose Natasha, Peter wasn't sure why, but already the teams seemed mismatched... in Clint's favour.
Ethan then chose Mark and Clint, continued until everyone was on a team. Peter ended up being on a different team ot Natasha, Steve and Clint. (Being chosen last, probably because of his age, which sucked!)
The teams were: Ethan, Oliver, Mark, Paul, Sam and Peter. Versus Clint, Natasha, Steve, Len and Joe. Six versus 5.
With the teams picked, they went and collected their gear: overalls, bodyarmer, helmet, a paintball gun and a bag containing ten magazine each. They were given a map and ten minutes to devise a plan and discuss strategy.
Peter wasn't asked for his opinion, so just stood and watched as the others came up with a plan. He was amazed at the efficiency of the group and how easily Ethan took control. They must have played together before, when he called out plans or code words they all seemed to understand.. Mark took a quick minute to explain the scenarios and phrases. When a buzzer went off to signify the end of the planning stage they were led to a fence with a door in it. It led to their base. Everyone quickly got into position.
Peter was made a look-out, you know a 'just-sit-there-and-don't-touch-or-shoot-anything' job, easily disposable.
'Probably think, I won't last long. I'll show them.', he thought.
The game started slow, each team scoping the terrain, getting a feel for the area. It was about fifteen minutes in that he heard the first klaxon. A klaxon, as they'd been told before entering, meant that someone had 'died'. He moved to the wall containing lights representing each team, he saw number 4, Paul's light, go out, one of their man'd just been killed.
Barely three minutes later another klaxon sounded. He watched the lights, it wasn't anyone from his team.
He stayed on the upper level of there base, using the lens on the gun to try and spot anyone. He noticed movement in the far left corner, when he focused on it he realised that it was just Mark. He decided to follow Mark's movements. He covered the man for a couple hundred metres before the man was shot down unexpectantly.
Peter's eyes searched the area for any enemies, none were found.
The klaxon sounded.
He'd spotted Len, from the opposite team, emerging from behind a large tree. Len had barely taken three steps before Peter had pulled the trigger and taken the man out himself.
He watched as a nearby tree split into two, Oliver's form separating from it. The man moved further into enemy territory, disappearing again.
Peter let out a whistle of appreciation, that was some awesome camouflage.
The current teams left were:
Ethan, Oliver, Oliver, Sam and Peter. Versus Clint, Natasha and Steve. Realising who was left on the other team sent a shudder up Peter's spine.
No matter who won, Peter decided he was going to fight till the last.
Since the rules of this particular game didn't have a flag or prize that need to be captured Peter saw no real point in staying in the base. He put the bag on, and pulled the straps tight, securing it to his back. He picked up his gun and headed out into the battlefield.
His sense's were on high alert. He jogged quietly through the underbrush.
Having memorized the map, he stopped at what he thought was less than 100 metres from enemy camp.
He wasn't fully sure what happened, one second he was standing beside a tree casing the area, the next he was 20 metres closer. He looked around to see what has happened and noticed paint splashes were he'd stood. Peter mentally thanked his spidey-senses.
He whirled and ducked, bringing his gun up to shoot whatever was behind him. He came face to face with Natasha.
"You just tried to kill me!" Peter said incredulously. He noticed she was making no move to lower her gun. "Ahhh, come on. That is so unfair, I can't shoot a girl!"
"That's Ok, you don't have to because you won't have the chance." She said, pulling the trigger.
He dodged left and instinctively shot back when paint bullets flew past his face, missing him by inches.
Ok, maybe he didn't have a problem with shooting girls... well with paintballs at the very least.
She was about to follow him into the tree line when a klaxon went off, she stopped. Threw one last glance at him before turning towards her right and walking into the trees again.
Peter relaxed a bit, lowering his gun. He decided to circle around and find another way into their base when he came face to face with Ethan.
"Holy crap, you nearly scared the life out of me." Peter hissed quietly. Doing a quick 360 to make sure Natasha wasn't around, he turned back.."So, you got a plan?"
Ethan didn't respond for a while and when he did, it wasn't with a plan.
"Why did she let you go."
"What are you talking about, I was just shot at. If that klaxon hadn't gone off she probably would have killed me." He was getting too worked up, apparently near heart-attacks did that."What about Oliver and Sam? Oliver was heading in this direction last time I saw him."
"They're dead."
"Crap, we might actually lose. Have you seen Clint or Steve around?" Receiving a shake of the head. Peter sighed. Those two could be anywhere and after that last klaxon, the odds were three against three.
"Ok here's what we'll do, we'll scout until one of us spots an enemy. I'll act as a distraction, draw there attention and then you can shoot them."
When the man didn't say anything, Peter took that as an 'OK'.
They tracked around the are, circling closer the the other's base when Ethan stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
Ethan nodded to something on his left. Peter crept closer and saw Steve standing there, pacing.
Peter straightened himself, hardening his resolve and took off towards him. Steve'd turned to face his when he heard him approach. After realising it was Peter he raised his gun ready to shoot.
Peter wasn't stupid he knew that the only way to not get shot was to use his enhanced speed. He shot across the space shooting at Steve and Steve used his own enhanced speed to dodge and fire back. He ran forward, the closer he was the easier it would be to turn. They danced around each other getting closer with every shot that went off, Peter was eventually able to twist Steve into Ethan's line of shot.
He heard the impact and watched Steve stiffen. A klaxon went off, sounding his death.
"You tricked me?" Steve said, slightly betrayed.
"Only way to take you down." Peter responded his voice softening."Knew you'd be tough to beat, had to tag-team you."
Ethan then walked into the area.
"We should go now. They'll be on the move, to see who died." Peter nodded in agreement.
"I'll see you later, yeah?" Peter asked Steve before he moved, making sure the man was ok.
"Yeah, I'll see you." He said, no hint of betrayal in his voice anymore.
They'd finally reached the enemy base only for Ethan to be shot. Peter quickly retreated. It was only after checking the area around him for Clint of Natasha that he noticed a strange shadow on the ground. He glanced up at the trees, he could see Clint scanning the area from twenty feet up.
"So that's how he did that, wonder who else he's killed from up there." Peter wondered while secretly admiring the good vantage point. Using his superspeed he darted from his spot towards the base. A trail of paint splatters littering the ground behind him. They were getting closer to him but so was the base. He dove the last few metres, just making it. He could hear the loud thuds as the bullets hit the walls.
He climbed the narrow stairs that was would bring him to the roof. He knew from his own base that the walls were about a metre high with merlons along it. He crawled on his belly to the closest wall. He popped his head up to check if he could see Clint from there. The man was off to his far left, gun aimed at the base entrance. Peter seeing no better chance took the shot.
Bullseye!
He'd already decided that he was never going to let Clint forget this.
He was so distracted with his happy-kill-shot-dance, that he didn't notice anyone coming up the stairs.
"Shame, you'd been doing so well." Natasha said, right before she shot him in the chest.
The two klaxons went off, signifying his and Clint's deaths.
Peter shoulders slumped in defeat, he might have killed Clint but Clint's team had beaten his.
-TIME SKIP—
After they'd left the forest, given back the equipment and joined back up with the other players, Clint suggested food. It was a unanimous yes. Peter piped in with pizza, no one could deny that pizza sounded pretty damn good after all that running around and dying.
Natasha offered to drive some of them while Mark brought the rest.
Peter ended up in the back squashed between Ethan and Clint.
"Hey guys I know i'm the smallest but any chance of ye scooching over a bit?"
"Whoops! Yeah sorry Pete" Clint apologised as he made room for the teen. "Nice shot by the way, honestly didn't think you were smart enough to know to use the platform upstairs to try and take me out."
"Smart move kid." Ethan piped in, "Where'd you learn to play like that?"
"Em, the strategy was mostly videogames and the running, dodging part was thanks to a school friend,"Peter replied not making eye contact.
Elsewhere in their respective places both Tony an Bruce felt an odd sense of abandonment run through them.
AN: Anyone with any ideas of where this fic is going, feel free to drop a line and you know, let me know!
