Author's Note: This chapter, more about the people that want Peter and more fallout from the team's meeting. Thanks for the support! Please enjoy this chapter.
"My mother used to tell me that when push comes to shove, you always know who to turn to. That being a family isn't a social construct but an instinct."
― Jodi Picoult
The Oscorp building towered above Gwen.
She hesitated at the automatic glass doors, memories of the last time she'd been there flooded her mind. The repairs were almost complete now—you could barely tell that Dr. Connors had been on a rampage, save for a few windows that were being installed—but the fear still remained fresh in her mind.
"You don't have to do this." Pepper told her softly, coming to stand beside her.
"You're right though." Gwen admitted, running her hand through her hair, a nervous habit. "If Oscorp is planning something that involves Peter, having an inside source would be the best way to protect him."
Pepper smiled, placing a comforting hand on the teenager's shoulder.
"I'll be right here when you come out."
Gwen forced herself to move before she could change her mind.
"Mr. Osborn?"
The founder of Oscorp's room was pitch-black, and though the young secretary wanted to turn on the lights, she knew better than that. Ever since Mr. Osborn's health had declined, so had his tolerance to light. It had been weeks since the public had even seen him—the PR department churning out some story about how he was cloistered working on his next research project—and only a handful of the people knew the truth.
"What?" His voice was gravelly and tone filled with bitterness. It stunned her to hear it from such a formerly jovial person. In fact, when she landed the job as Mr. Osborn's secretary, she'd been thrilled. Her first few weeks here had been amazing—seeing all the cool projects the scientists were working on, even getting to toss out a few of her ideas—but as soon as Mr. Osborn had gotten sick, the fun atmosphere had dissipated.
"Harry is on the phone." She smiled hopefully. "He'd like to talk to you—"
"Tell him I'm busy."
Her face fell.
She felt bad enough that Harry had practically been banished to boarding school in Europe, but now that he was being ignored, she felt even worse.
"Sir, I—"
"Leave!" He roared and she shrank back, grimacing.
"As you wish." She nodded her head, before backing up and closing the door behind her. With a sigh, she returned to her desk and picked up the phone.
"Harry, your dad is busy." She frowned. "Yes, I'll tell him to call you back." A pause. "You too. Bye."
As she hung up the phone, she began to wonder when Oscorp had become such an oppressive environment.
"Miss Stacy, I must say I'm surprised to see you back here." Dr. Lahey, in charge of the intern program, began with a bemused grin. "Though, I must confess, I'm glad. After the . . ." He paused, searching for the right word, adjusting his thick glasses. "After the 'incident' here, we lost most of our interns." He leaned forward in his chair, regarding her carefully. "What made you decide to come back?"
Gwen had lied before—to her parents when she'd been younger, to her siblings, even to Peter now and again—but there was something about knowing what was at stake that made her nervous to tell this one. If she screwed up, she wouldn't be hired back and any chance of getting her hands on Oscorp's files would be lost.
She had to succeed.
"Oscorp is such a pioneer in so many fields." She began, starting with a truth. "I want to learn from the best." She plastered a grin on her face, hoping it didn't come off too strong.
"I'm pleased to hear that." Dr. Lahey smiled. "Well, of course, Oscorp would be thrilled to have you back." He pushed over her lab coat and I.D. badge. "When could you start?"
"Tomorrow."
"Perfect." He said, extending his hand.
As she shook his hand, she huffed out a sigh of relief.
She was in.
"What's going on?" Peter asked as he entered the training room, absently rubbing his wet hair with towel. He'd slept in today—running on sheer adrenaline for practically the whole night had left him pretty drained—but he hadn't expected the spectacle that greeted him.
Natasha stood in the middle of the room, dressed in her protective gear, hair pinned back, but there was something different in her stance. Her eyes shimmered dangerously, her lips set in a tight line. Clint stood beside her, whispering something in her ear. She smirked, the tilt of her lips vanishing almost immediately.
Tony stood opposite of her, his armor covering him, save for his head. He regarded the two assassins coldly before facing Bruce and saying something to the scientist who in turn shook his head.
"Tony and Natasha are to engage in battle." Thor began, voice grim.
"They're what?" Peter echoed, perplexed. "Why?"
"Sometimes," Steve began, shaking his head sadly. "The best way to resolve an argument is just to let two people fight."
"Fight?" The teenager repeated. "Why would they need to fight?"
"They both obviously have some issues with each other and after yesterday, I can't risk them going off on each other during a mission."
"So, what?" Peter began, a tinge of worry entering his tone. "You're just going to let Tony and Natasha beat the crap out of each other until they both decide they're done being mad at each other?"
"Basically." Steve replied wryly. Then, facing Peter, he added, "Look, this isn't my ideal situation, but Tony and Natasha are both stubborn. This is the only way they can resolve their issues."
"And if they kill each other?" Peter question grimly, noting the determination blazing in both Tony and Natasha's eyes.
"Well, that's why Bruce is here." Steven remarked, attempting to make a joke.
Peter just hoped it wouldn't come to that.
"Mr. Osborn, I have told you many times that without Richard—"
"I don't care about Richard Parker!" Mr. Osborn growled, a rare display from him given his weakened condition. "What can you tell me, Dr. Lahey?"
"So far, all are attempts at synthesizing antidotes to your condition have failed."
Mr. Osborn said nothing and Dr. Lahey adjusted his glasses nervously.
"And the boy?" Mr. Osborn began softly.
"The boy?" Dr. Lahey echoed, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
"Richard's son." Mr. Osborn enunciated and Dr. Lahey stiffened. "Peter, was it?"
"What about him, sir?" He started, worry entering his tone. He didn't like where this line of questioning was going. He knew Mr. Osborn was desperate, but was he that desperate that he would endanger a teenager?
"His DNA." The founder voice dissolved into a coughing fit, one that wracked his frail body. After what seemed like an eternity, he stilled and Dr. Lahey held his breath, wondering if this would be the moment when Osborn died.
"Sir?" He whispered.
"Bring me the boy." Osborn ordered, voice fading. "If nothing else, he is Richard's son. He could prove valuable."
"But, sir, you're talking about kidnapping—"
In the dark, yellow eyes flashed and sent a chill down Dr. Lahey's spine.
"Bring me the boy." He hissed.
Silence passed.
"Of course." Dr. Lahey finally said.
He had to find Peter Parker.
Now.
"You wanted to see me?"
Alexander Pierce grinned as he turned around to see Nick Fury standing in his office's doorway. The older S.H.I.E.L.D. agent hadn't been able to converse with the Director recently, spending his time trying to convince the World Security Council that letting the Avengers have time for themselves was truly the best course of action right now.
"Yes, come in!"
The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. entered the immaculate office and took a seat in the chair across from his old friend. Alexander held up a confidential file and slid it over to Fury.
"This is Parker's file." Fury remarked. "I didn't know you were interested in the Avengers Initiative." It wasn't accusatory, just curiosity that colored his tone.
"I am when you have a kid that's not even out of high school on the team." Alexander grimaced. "Look, Nick, he's young. Are you sure you want to keep him on that team?"
"Peter will learn from the best." He replied quickly, justifying his choice.
"I have no doubts about that." Alexander conceded. "But there's something about it that gives me a bad feeling." He leaned back in his chair, thinking deeply. "And with his father's ties to Oscorp and Norman Osborn—"
"I understand your concerns." Nick interjected. "But Peter is safest with them, not to mention the team will train him better than we ever could."
"And if Osborn should try something?" He ventured.
"The team wouldn't let that happen." Nick met his gaze. "Period."
Alexander chuckled quietly.
"If that's all then," Fury rose from his chair. "I'll see you soon."
"Looking forward to it." Alexander called as Fury exited his office. He reached for Peter's file once more and smirked.
Perhaps, H.Y.D.R.A. could find a use for Peter Parker after all.
Peter felt like he was watching a car wreck unfold right before his eyes.
As Natasha dodged another blast from Tony's arc reactor, the teenager was torn between how cool it was to see Black Widow go up against Iron Man, and how sick to the stomach it made him feel.
Neither Tony nor Natasha were pulling any punches and to any outside, it would appear that they were bitter enemies rather than actual teammates.
"Can't we stop this now?" Peter faced Steve, worry lining his expression. "I mean, look at them!"
Natasha threw a smoke bomb down and used the distraction to get behind Tony. A flash of electricity lit up the suit and as the smoke clear, the teenager could see that the spy had jammed a taser into an opening in the suit, attempting to overload it.
"No." Steve ground out, jaw clenched. "Not yet."
Tony retaliated by lighting his thrusters and shaking Natasha off. She rolled gracefully onto the floor and it only took her a second to regain her battle stance.
"Steve!" Peter began to protest, but Thor's strong hand patted him on the back.
"Fear not, Parker." The God counseled. "Trust in our comrades."
"The ones that are trying to kill each other?" The teenager remarked dryly.
"You'll see," Thor soothed. "All will be well."
And the battle continued on.
Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review if you have a moment. Thanks!