This chapter is on the shorter side, but there wasn't much that I needed to make clear.

BUT. You may notice something really different. I changed this Spiderman Fanfiction to an Avengers fanfiction with a new title and a new summary. I've been thinking about this decision for a while now. The reason why is kind of complicated. When I first started this fanfic, I really only knew who Peter was. Now, two months later, I'm three movies away from finishing the MCU and I have multiple other characters fighting for the number one spot in my character ranking. I love so many other characters now. I've been really wanting to bring everybody I love into my book and I didn't want to just focus on Peter anymore.

I've been wrestling with this choice and I decided to ultimately change it to an Avengers fanfiction. That way, I could write the story and the conflicts without needing to have everything focus on Peter. Now I have the freedom to explore all of the Avengers' journeys and not just Peter's.

If you want to know more about some minor things about the story that I will be changing in the future, or just some things that I feel would be necessary to know, I would go back to the prologue because I will have added some new additions to the "things you should know before reading this" list.

That's all!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer:

I do not own the Spiderman franchise, the Marvel franchise, or any of the characters. That all belongs to Marvel Studios. Everything to Marvel Studios. Any added dialogue, plots, or characters are mine, but nothing else. I don't own it.

Chapter Nine - Page Outta My Book

"I said no! How many times is it gonna take for you to understand?" I rub my hands through my hair, glancing back at Laura on the porch.

Natasha shrugs, squinting in the morning sun. "Tony said it was important."

I start to speak, but the words catch in my throat. "I'm not an Avenger anymore." Rolling my shoulders back, I take a few steps closer to her. "Nat, look. I wish I could. I want to help out– I really do. But…" I gesture to my house. "Nathaniel, Lila, Cooper, Laura… I can't leave them."

"I understand, Clint." Natasha pats my shoulder. "Tony's not going to be happy when he finds you've stayed, but that's not my problem."

A small grin pulls at my mouth. "Thank you. Knowing Tony, if he were here, he'd try to force me into saying yes."

"That sounds like him."

A rush of affection floods my system as my kids giggle from behind me and Laura's voice projects into the air.

"Cooper! Lila! Slow down, you're going to run– ."

Two busy figures barrel into my legs, knocking me forward and into Nat, sending us both down.

Laura groans and approaches us, helping us from the grass.

Brushing hay off of my jacket, I chuckle as the children rush off into the farm and out of sight.

My wife sighs. "Sorry about that, Natasha. They've been crazy all day."

"What, you're not going to apologize to me?" I stick out my lower lip, resulting in a playful glare from Laura.

"Oh, stop it, Flint." Laura slaps me, but can't contain a bubble of mirth.

"Still using that nickname, aren't you?"

She raises her eyebrows, walking backwards toward the farmhouse. "Words that rhyme make good nicknames. You should catch on."

My eyes follow her into the barn.

"Well," Nat snags my attention again, "it seems your love life is flourishing." She winks, poking me in the chest.

"What about you? How's your relationship going?"

Natasha's smile fades. "I'm not in one. Not anymore."

My brow furrows and I clasp her shoulders, my voice soft. "What? Why not? You and Bruce– ."

"Messed up. We messed up badly."

"Natasha– ."

"Leave it. It was for the best."

I grab her wrist as she pulls away. "Wait."

"Clint, I really– ."

"What happened?"

She bites her lip. "We had an argument. It got out of hand. Bruce lost control, the other guy took over, and almost hurt me. When I calmed him with a lullaby, Bruce couldn't believe what he'd nearly done. A week later, he initiated the breakup."

"Nat, I'm so sorry."

"It was bound to happen eventually. Couldn't avoid it."

I nudge her arm. "Do you want to…uh…stay here for a couple of nights? We'd be happy to have you."

"Thanks, Clint, but Tony wants me at Avengers Headquarters."

"Ah. Of course."

Nat's hair bounces as she nods, watching Laura usher the kids into the house. "I'll see you around?"

I dip my head. "Be careful, Natasha."

"Don't worry. I'll be fine." The spy takes her leave after a quick smile and zooms off in her car.

The afternoon transitions into evening. When work is done, I retire to my room and shower off the grime from today's labor. As the water runs down my back, my thoughts float to the clouds.

"Tony wanted to know if you could come to Avengers Headquarters for some meetings. Possibly missions. He didn't clarify."

I dig my fingers into my hair, sudsing the soapy foam into my scalp. So… Tony's reassembling the Avengers. Why? HYDRA's gone, Ultron's gone, the Civil War's over… What could be so dire that Earth's Mightiest Heroes would need to, again, unite? And why would they need me? I retired from the team a long time ago. They've been doing fine without me. Sure, I shoot arrows, maybe blow up a few things, but that's all. My skills don't even come close to, say, Thor's. They don't need me.

A few more minutes, and I'm out of the shower, tossing on an evening outfit. I tiptoe through the hallways, listening to the kids' gentle snoring as I creak open their doors and whisper goodnight. A still quiet makes every noise louder as I creep down the stairs and onto the porch.

The blue twilight dons a starlit garb across the sky, the nighttime creatures croaking the moon's arrival. Soft stars twinkle among the clouds.

I collapse onto a bench and lay my head back, shutting my eyes.

"But if you step out that door, you are an Avenger."

Why do they need me?

"You okay?"

I jerk my head up. Laura's standing in the open doorway, peeking out at me. Nodding, I scoot over to give her room.

She closes the door and joins me. "What did Nat want?"

"She, uh… Tony's getting the Avengers back together again."

Laura snuggles deeper into my hold. "What did you say?"

"I said no, of course."

"They must be in a pretty bad situation to need a retired Avenger."

"I was thinking that too."

"What do you think's the problem?"

"I can't place it. All the threats from the past are gone. It must be something new."

"If it's something new, then they might need you more than you think."

I widen my eyes at her. "Are you saying I should go?"

"I'm just asking for you to truly consider your decision instead of brushing it off like it's nothing. They may really need you."

"The answer is no! I retired for a reason, and that reason still stands. I'm not leaving you with the kids to fend for yourselves."

Laura hums a response.

An owl hoots frantically from the roof, then escapes into the sky. The trees rock back and forth and the clouds overhead gleam with a baleful sheen.

I rise from the bench and pull Laura to her feet, tromping to the railing and glancing around. "Was it supposed to storm tonight?"

"I don't believe so. The weather channel's not always correct though. You can't place your faith in it." Laura massages my shoulder. "I'll go check again." She retreats into the house, cracking the door for me.

Not so easily convinced, I survey the area, my eyes focusing on every moving thing. When nothing unusual strikes me, I smirk and back away.

I'm too skeptical. It's just an unpredicted stor– .

A gray shape wavers in the horizon.

What…what is that?

Squinting, I skip down the porch steps to see better.

The dark square rumbles near the tree line and a turret clicks to the side, revealing a giant, silver gun.

My muscles lock in place as a circular symbol flashes on the armor.

A red skull with octopus legs.

HYDRA.

I stumble up the porch steps and shriek Laura's name before the crack of tank blast sets the world on fire.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I'M SO HORRIBLE.

Want to know what I've done?

Too bad. Wait a few more chapters. Mwahaha!

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