"Please excuse the damage." Fury said as the pair sat down on the jet. "Someone got into a fire fight in here and didn't bother to patch the hole in the furniture."
"It was one shot with a ray gun." A voice yelled from the cockpit.
"Scott, just fly the damn plane."
"Alright… alright… We're going… You know I could have..."
"Scott… You're doing it again."
"Sorry. Sorry."
"Don't say you're sorry, just do it."
The jet lifted off and Peter watched the city shrink below him. He hadn't been anywhere near this high since his trip into space. He felt a bit of unease, and wondered if this is what PTSD sufferers felt like.
"Where are we going?" Peter asked
"SHIELD's temporary headquarters, we call it 'The Lighthouse' and for now, unfortunately…" Fury said before raising his voice. "Scott, time to run dark."
"Um… Dark… right…"
"You did fix it, right…"
"Hold on." One by one, the windows of the plane turned black.
"So… what exactly do you need me for?"
"Simple really. I'm down to only a handful of my best agents, so I need all the help I can get. And you, you need protection, training and resources to fight the good fight."
"So… I would be a SHIELD agent?"
"Yes. Though you'd be free to run solo, do your own thing. But the day may come when I'll have to call you in. There would be a stipend for you and your aunt. If anyone tries anything, she can have round the clock protection at the drop of a hat. If you get into a big fight, we'll take care of the damages."
"Really? What about Damage Control?"
"Less clean up, more insurance and a lawyer."
"That's the point of the suit, no one knows who I am. How can they sue me?"
"What happens when you get your ass kicked, get knocked out and wake up in a hospital? You'll have every level of law enforcement trying to Three Stooges their way through the door to arrest you."
"But I'm supposed to be an Avenger…"
"And where are they right now? Hiding. Stuck in that complex. No resources. No support. Nothing.
"Why didn't you go to them?"
"I plan to… when the moment is right."
Peter got up and started to walk around the plane. He walked towards the cockpit and saw the young man flying the plane, muttering under his breath about "…beautiful sunny day and I'm on IFR…"
"I'm not sure about this." Peter said, pacing around the cabin.
"What exactly did Stark tell you that's go you so upset?"
"How did you know?"
"Because… I've had a tail on you since the incident. They saw the discussion the two of you had the other day…"
Peter thought back to that day and told Fury what had happened.