Hands of Fate

by RGM-96S Stark Jegan

Spider-man has to make and live with his choices in a new world. The curse of power consumes all.

15. Bearings Part 1

I do not own Spider-Man or Legend of Korra

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XXXxxx Sato Estate: Rec Room xxxXXX

Kung-Lei sat quietly on the edge of the sparing ring with his eyes closed and ears open. The sound of flesh pounding wood graced his ears. Master Lei frowned. It was as if he was listening to a first year percussionist. You teach them the basics but they always just wail on the drum like a drunken simpleton. The rhythm was all wrong. His strikes where hard, and there were too many pauses. Lei could only take so much and opened his eyes. He took a breath. He had his work cut out for him.

"Alright Takuya, that's enough." He signaled him to stop.

"Great, I'm tired of pounding on this…muk yu-whatever."

"Muk Yan Jong." Lei corrected him.

"Right. I'm not doing a whole lot with this 'stick man' thing." Peter said with false fatigue in his breath. He wasn't tired, but rather annoyed.

Master Lei opened his newspaper and flipped to the funnies. "Oh, what brought you to that conclusion Takuya?"

"I'm not learning anything by practicing with a stationary post. I mean who in the world is going to stand still with punches flying at you?" Peter knocked on the wooden dummy to emphasis his point.

Master Lei softly chuckled at a comic strip and Peter's naiveté. "You don't say. Well, those katas you went through, if you could call them that, were very telling. Your left's too slow and your strikes are sloppy and rushed. I'm learning a lot about you young man"

Peter was a little bewildered that Lei picked up all of that just from ear. But he was stubborn and pressed his argument. "That's well and good for you, but 'Mr. Stick' over here isn't doing it for me. How about we do a little sparing instead?"

"No, you aren't ready for open sparing yet." He flipped the paper to current events. "Don't worry, you'll get there in time."

Peter grimaced. Time wasn't in abundance at the moment. "What do you mean I'm not ready? We spared on the first day right. You didn't have any hang ups fighting a total novice then. What's changed?"

"Absolutely nothing. Besides that wasn't sparing. No, what you experienced was a very effective marketing technique." He sighed when he came to an article on the equalists.

Peter openly gawked at his teacher. "You gotta be kidding me…"

Kung-Lei took his eyes off the newspaper and regarded his wide eyed student. "What? You have to sell yourself if you want to make a buck kid."

"That marketing almost broke my arm!" Peter pointed out.

"We've established that I don't to 'gentle' too well right. Look on the bright side, you get to be under the tutelage of a top notch martial artists at no charge." He flashed Peter with a mischievous smile. "I'd call that a win."

Peter shook his head. He knew arguing was pointless and deseeded to save his breath. "Unbelievable. Mr. Lei, can you please explain to me the rea-"

"We've been over this Takuya."

Peter sighed. "Sifu Kung-Lei, can you please explain why I'm hitting this stupid thing."

Kung-Lei sighed, folded up his newspaper, and jumped into the ring. I'm glad you asked." He approached the wooden dummy and prepared to demonstrate. "The Muk Yun Jong is a training tool primarily used by wingchun practitioners. It's primary function is to simulate incoming punches and kicks. The 'stickman' here is helping you to develop skills on how to properly block and, more importantly, how to counter." He went through some katas as with his wooden opponent. One arm block while the other stuck. "Did that answer your question?"

"Alright let me rephrase that. Why am I playing with this thing when I could learn all of this through sparing?" He continued to push.

Kung Lei chuckled to himself. "You just want payback from last time, don't you?"

"I wouldn't dream of it Sifu Lei. I was only suggesting that a sparring match would be mutually beneficial for the both of us." He rearranged his glasses, mocking a stately demeanor. "I could learn more and you could stay in shape."

"Come again?" Peter's little jab didn't go unnoticed.

"I just think that sparing would be an excellent opportunity for a seasoned individual to…stay in the swing of things. I mean, no offense, but you've been looking a little doughy lately."

Lei smirked at Peter's attempt to goad him. The little jerk just called him old and fat in the vaguest way possible and the laymen wouldn't have caught that. He guessed Asami didn't see this side of Peter. It didn't bother him. The kid had grit and he liked that. "I'm touched by your concern Takuya, but rest assured that your sifu goes through an extensive workout regimen before your up for breakfast."

Peter whistled. "Paint me impressed sifu Lei."

Lei rubbed his stubble and came up with a compromise. "Alright wise guy. You got that move set I showed you in your head?"

"I've got a good grasp on it, yeah." Peter dropped the humor and addressed him directly.

"Good, cause you're going to do it again." Kung-Lei motioned for Peter to move to the center of the ring. "Only this time I'll be filling in for 'Mr. Stick'."

Peter smiled. It looked like he got his wish. "So we're sparing then!?"

"No, you're going to stand there and go through your defensive set while I try to punch you. Got it."

Peter's face twisted, his wish backfired. "You just want me to stand here play punching bag now!?" He played the part the part before but never willingly.

Kung-Lei ignored his protest and assumed a basic stance. "No Takuya, just trust me on this."

Peter took a deep breath and got into his own stance. "Fine, let's just get this over with."

Without further notice, Kung-Lei initiated the impromptu drill. He threw a barrage of light but fast punches at Peter. He only used a fraction of this expertise with his blows. They weren't anything special, just hearty jabs and hooks were thrown at him. He didn't tell Peter, but he wasn't going as fast as he could. Coddling a student meant running the risk of stunting their growth.

Peter took the drill seriously. His focus was razor sharp as he tracked the flurry of punches coming his way. It appeared that master Lei wasn't spouting hot air. Every attack he threw at him either missed their mark or was blocked entirely. What was most surprising was that he was doing this with minimal assistance from his spider-sense. It was still active but the pronounced buzz was replaced with a dull hum though it all. He guessed that his sixth sense didn't have to work as hard when he knew what was coming. He wondered if his senses were being overloaded this whole time.

Kung-Lei ended the drill and was surprised to see his student smiling. He expected another complaint.

"Well I'll be, that what-ch-ma call it actually works." Peter admitted

"Focus Takuya! Lesson's not over yet." Kung-Lei stood firm but was just as excited as Peter was. He hadn't felt the joy of teaching in a long time.

"Yes sifu!" Peter snapped back into reality and bowed to his teacher.

Kung-Lei frowned and smacked the back of his head. "You only bow when we're done!" Lei cracked the whip. He couldn't risk Peter getting too comfortable. "And if you're going to do it, do it right. Bow with your face up, not down! Like this." He demonstrated to Peter the proper way to bow.

"Yes sifu Lei!" Peter frowned at Lei. He was lucky he wasn't a thug on the street. He brushed the thought of petty revenge aside and let the man continue.

"Right then. Those punches were basic and the most common attack you could encounter. If you encounter your run of the mill assailant, they'd come at you like that. They don't know the first thing about hand-to-hand combat and will usually use sloppy punches. A few of them might throw the occasional kick your way but I guarantee you form's going to be all wrong. We'll work on that later. Now, DEFEND!" Kung-Lei stepped closer and threw a slow motion punch. His student followed his instructions and blocked the haymaker. He remained still, stayed in the punch, and continued his lecture. "Now pay attention. You stopped my blow from connecting but the fights not overI put most of my power in this single blow and I'm off balance. And now that I'm in a compromised position you have what I call, areas of opportunity. You have my face, gut, legs, groin, neck, and wrists" He pointed to theses spots with his free hand. "You can counter my attack by hitting any of these spots. And this is the basic idea behind wing chun kung-fu." He concluded and took a step back. "Now we bow."

Peter bowed with his teacher correctly. He was bursting at the seams with glee. It wasn't much yet, but he was adding an important skill to his arsenal.

Kung-Lei took off the disciplinarian hat and returned to his normal self. "So, what do you think?"

" I think you know what you're doing old ma-Sifu Lei." Peter exclaimed and moved his arms through the combination against an invisible sparring partner. He was grinning like a mad man. It would seem that he made the right call sticking with Kung-Lei.

"I've only been doing this for most of my adult life, but thanks. That means a lot to me kid." Lei took some offense but let it slide.

"Mr. L-" Peter blurted without thinking but was stopped cold from a dirty look by Kung-Lei. "Sifu Lei" He corrected himself again. The 'sifu' title was going to take some getting used to.

Kung-Lei sighed. "What is it?"

"Is it possible to learn someone's movements? I mean, can you read them?" Peter searched for the right words. "Can you learn stuff like habits or attack patterns by observation?" If such an ability existed, he'd be virtually unstoppable, or so he thought.

Lei pulled up a stool from one of the ring posts, took a seat, and pondered Peter's question. "It's possible, on paper anyway. But I can't imagine it's a skill you could just pick up. I do possess a version of what you just described and it took me years to develop it. I know several martial art disciplines and their weaknesses. This allows me to predict what my opponent will do." He paused looking for better wording. "I know their habits and how to handle them. Does that answer your question?"

Peter's eyes lit up. "So it's possible then? Like how you analyzed my flaws just by ear."

Lei stroked his stubble and answered. "Yes, but not the way you imagine it. What your describing sounds like, I don't know, 'Photographic Reflexes' or something. And I'm sorry to say that doesn't exist. You can't just watch someone fight for a bit and analyze their every move. But you can pick up a few things from a person's body language. That's what I did when you were practicing with the dummy. A limp could mean that someone's weak on one side, or compensating for an old injury, it could be anything. You can learn a lot from non-verbal communication. I think they call it kin-esthetics."

Peter snapped at his dashed hopes. "Shoot! I thought I had something there."

"Don't swat it Takuya, that skill is far too advanced for you anyway. Honestly, I don't know why you'd be interested in such a thing."

"Eh, no particular reason." Peter recoiled and played dumb. "The thought just popped in my head, that's all." He wondered if he was losing his touch.

"Humph too bad. It sounded like you wanted to be a master for a second there."

A boisterous laugh erupted across the room. Both Peter and Kung-Lei turned towards the source. The man of the house was strolling to the ring.

"You'll have to wait your turn Kung-Lei. I found him first." Hiroshi cried out.

"Mr. Sato!?" Peter was shocked to see his boss.

Kung-Lei smiled and stood up to great the industrialist. "Hiroshi, no time no see. What's it been six years?"

Hiroshi smiled and went in for a handshake. "Eight actually. So how you been, taking care of yourself I hope."

Peter let the two men catch up and wondered why the boss wanted to see him. He'd been MIA from the office for a while. Maybe he was here to chew him out for his chronic absences or he caught wind of his 'assault' and wanted to check up on him. Either way, the visit was a surprise. A tinge of shame emerged. He felt bad for lying to the man who had done so much for him in this strange land.

'…been great seeing you again Kung-Lei but would you please give me and Takuya the room. We have a few private matters do discuss."

Kung-Lei chuckled at the man's miss placed manners. "You believe this guy Takuya? He asks me politely to leave when he owns the place. Ah, you're a class act Sato. All right, we're done for the day anyway." He grabbed his duffle bag and stepped out of the ring. "Good session kid. Try to practice what we covered today, alright?"

"Sure thing Sifu Lei." Peter waved goodbye to the master and gave Hiroshi the floor. "Mr. Sato, feels like we haven't talked in weeks." He draped a towel over his head and stepped out of the ring to face Hiroshi. He sat on the edge and gave the man his full attention.

"Feels like ages from my end Takuya." Hiroshi garbed a seat and faced him. His face shifted. "I had heard what happened to you the other night. I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's alright Mr. Sato. I was banged up pretty good but I'm all better now. So how are things on your end? Everything alright at the office?"

"I've been busy." Hiroshi face smiled. It was his turn to lie. "I've been wrapping up a massive project that required my full attention."

Peter smirked. "Sounds fun."

"Nerve racking actually. In fact it's why I wanted to speak with you in person." Hiroshi locked eyes with Peter. "I'll be blunt. I need your help Takuya."

His head perked up at the possible call to action. Excitement and apprehension mixed in Pete's gut. "Mr. Sato, wow, I'm honored that you'd even consider me for something so big." He sunk his head the more he thought about it. "But honestly I'm not sure if I'm ready for any major league projects. Especially something that could stump someone like you."

Hiroshi laughed at the teen's doubts. He knew full well what Peter was capable of. When he was his age, he was struggling with the initial satomobile designs followed by years of grueling work trying to build his brand. He invested money he didn't have all while supporting a wife and child. Those were hard years filled with sleepless nights and worry. Hearing Peter's utter such nonsense was a gut buster. The equalists were already employing his genius for their ends and he didn't have a clue. If he could get Peter on his side and utilize him to the fullest, the possibilities were potentially endless. "Young man, I've been around the block enough times to know when someone is ready for the 'major league' as you put it. Trust me Takuya, you're more than ready."

Peter's couldn't believe his ears. His pride swelled at the opportunity, but something was nagging him. He had a bad feeling and he couldn't shake it. Worse yet, it had nothing to do with his spider-sense. That feeling prevented him from answering right away. What was he afraid of? Mr. Sato just presented his dream on a silver platter and still he hesitated. He didn't fear jeopardizing his double life or his spirit problem. Truth is, he feared he'd fall short of Sato's expectations. The man went out of his way to nurture and hone his gifts. The time had come to pay him back.

"Al right Mr. Sato. I'm in." He said with a determined look. He had his misgivings but chose to ignore them. "So what are we working on? A new satomobile prototype, a revolutionary type of fuel?"

Words couldn't describe how happy he was to hear Peter say that. Sato caught himself before getting carried away. He only won half the battle after all. "Whoa, slow down there Takuya. This project is still top secret at the moment and I can't risk it leaking to the public."

"Oh right." Sato's demeanor whipped away any fears he had. Maybe it was all in his head. "So when's a good time to talk about it?"

"I'm glad you asked. Me and Asami will be attending the first round of the championship tournament in the company box." He reaches in his suit pocket and pulls out an all access pass and hands it to Peter. "We can discuss the project in more detail there. I doubt there will be any eavesdroppers in the biggest sporting event in the city."

Peter chucked at Hiroshi's antics. He liked the whole corporate cloak and dagger routine. "I like your style Mr. Sato. This whole secret 'loose lips sink ships' stuff makes me feel like a spy or something." He waved his fingers around like he was telling a ghost story. "All you need now is some invisible ink and an informant to complete the set."

Sato shared a laugh with his protégée. "I know it sounds crazy but it's actually business as usual. You'd be surprised how many industrial spy's Cabbage Corp. and Varrick Industries send my way. Trust me son, you never know whose listening."

Peter grabbed the pass. "You know I was going to come anyway. You're daughter invited me to tag along a while ago."

"You don't say. That girl always did move faster than me."

"So I just flash this pass and I'm in?"

"Yes, but you don't have to worry about that since you'll be attending with us. That's just there so security won't give you any problems." Hiroshi explained.

"Okay." Peter stood up letting the towel hang around his neck. "Mr. Sato."

"Yes."

"I umm…I just wanted to thank you for everything. Life's been getting pretty hectic lately and…well...I don't want to get into the nitty-gritty, so let's just say that I really needed this right now." Peter held out his hand. "Thanks again Mr. Sato and I won't let you down."

Hiroshi rose to his feet. He regarded the outstretched hand for a second before accepting it. "The thought never crossed my mind Takuya."

The two exchanged some parting words before Hiroshi left him to his devices. As he stepped across the large hallway, an uneasy feeling rocked his senses. He was on the verge of plunging his mentee into his dark world and he had no idea how he would take it. The business mogul had played out this scenario in his head several times, especially with his daughter. He took a deep breath and straightened his back. This wasn't the time for doubts or second thoughts. The revolution was entering its final, crucial, stages and all the cards had to be laid on the table. A steely look was etched on his face. He was a man on a mission that couldn't fail, that wouldn't fail. Everything he did, every sacrifice, was to create a better tomorrow. He would build a world his wife would be proud of.

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XXXxxx Air Temple Island xxxXXX

A light, cold, ocean breeze blew across the modest island. Snowflakes fell at a leisurely pace and the sound of hungry bat like lemurs could be heard in their small corner of the island. Ambient lighting guided Korra, Ikki, and Jinora to the feeding grounds.

Korra's mind was reeling with how she would deal with current events. She knew she was the Avatar at a young age. Greatness wasn't a hope, but a certainty. At least that's what she thought the position would entail. The moment she set foot in this city it had been one mess after another. Of course they were both personal and work related. It didn't help matters that the big tournament kicked off tomorrow. She wouldn't classify it as a major problem but it was also impossible not to feel anxious about it. Thoughts of duty, honor, love, and friendship plagued her psyche. What could she do? What should she do?

"So how's it going with that tall dreamy firebender boy?" Jinora offered a welcomed distraction. "You two been spending a lot of time together."

Korra did a double take at the young airbender's words. She still had feelings for her team captain, but things weren't as defined as they once were. Up is down; right is left. Nothing made sense in these turbulent times.

"What ?! No no, he's my teammate, a big pro bender. And besides, he's into that tall dreamy sophisticated rich girl." Korra paused at the thought. She always believed she could overcome any obstacle. But courting was proving to be as difficult as airbending. It didn't bother her too much because she wasn't the same girl she was when she came to the city. Maybe some advice would be helpful, even if it was from a little girl. "-But let's pretend that I was interested. What should I do?"

Tenzin's eldest child jumped at the chance to aid Korra with her relationship woes. She offered up a long forgotten love story with the main character falling to her demise after laying waste to an entire country. It was almost romantic but far too morbid to be of any use to Korra. Ikki's advice was more upbeat, but ended up being a gargle of words. She lost her around the rainbows or chocolate mountains part. The younger sister had the energy but it ended up going nowhere.

Korra sighed and wondered why she bothered asking. "The volcanos starting to sound better."

A famine laugh rang out behind the three girls. Korra turned and was mortified to see Pemma at her expense.

"Pemma hi…how long have you been listening?"

"Long enough. And trust me, I know what you're going through." Pemma stepped closer. "Years ago, I was in the exact same situation with Tenzin."

"Daddy was in love with someone else before you?" Ikk couldn't dream of her stern father being involved in such a messy incident.

"That's right." Pemma winked.

Korra inwardly agreed with the hyper active child. Tenzin was as straightlaced as they come. How could he find himself in a love triangle of all things? "So what did you do!?"

"Well for the longest time I did nothing. I was so shy and scared of rejection, but watching my soul mate spend his life with the wrong woman became too painful. So I hung my chin out there, confessed my love to Tenzin, and the rest is history." Pema recalled the story as if it happened yesterday. The air nomad matriarch owed everything she held dear on chance and some courage. Of course, she left out the messy breakup that followed. That was a tale for another day.

All three of them swooned at the romantic tale. Who could blame them? It sounded like it came right out of a romance novel.

A reassured smile appeared on Korra's face. The idea of dropping all the pretexts and speaking your mind was right up her ally. Forget the consequences and take a leap of fate. Her little victory was cut short by another nagging thought. There was still another matter she needed guidance with. "Hey Pema, can I ask you about something else?"

"Sure Korra, ask away." Pema hoped she had a social issue. She wouldn't be much help with anything equalist related.

"Umm.." Korra eyed the curious siblings ease dropping on their conversation.

Pema picked on her body language and acted accordingly. "Kids go help your father with his…office supplies?"

"Aw mom!"

"But I want to hear what-"

"No buts! GO!" The seasoned mother used her commanding tone with her daughters. It was still effective as they followed her order without any further protest. She sighed, that wouldn't fly in a couple of years. She turned and gave Korra the floor. "Okay Korra what's up?"

"I need some advice with a little issue I have." Korra cobbled her words together as vaguely as she could. She was careful not to reveal any incriminating details on Peter.

Pemma raised a brow at Korra's odd behavior. "Uh-huh, what kind of 'issue' do you need help with?" She playfully mocked Korra's secrecy with air quotes. "I hope it's not a serious 'issue'."

Korra ignored her teasing and continued. "It is-I mean no…kind of."

Pemma giggled at Korra's clumsy delivery. "Relax Korra, this will stay between us. Talk to me."

Korra sighed in relief, but wouldn't name Peter. "Well you see, I have this friend and he's, umm... really secretive." She tried to her best but she couldn't hold a candle to the Poindexter secrecy.

"This is about that boy you brought here the other night isn't it." Pema dealt with three children that lied to her constantly. Korra couldn't dream of keeping Peter from her.

"No!...*Sigh* yes." Korra gave up to the mother's perceptive abilities and told her what she could about Peter. She omitted the big secret for obvious reasons.

"Is he alright? I caught a glimpse of him and he was in pretty bad shape."

"He's fine." Korra downplayed his injuries. She honestly thought the vigilante was knocking on death's door when she rushed him over to the temple. "I saw him at the arena the other day and he was walking around like nothing happened."

"Thank goodness. So what's the problem?"

Again Korra paused. How does one tell another that an infamous super powered vigilante was sleeping under the same roof? "He's really shy." She winced and the poor wording.

"Oh okay, I get it. He has feelings for you but he won't make a move, is that it? But I thought you were interested in that Mako guy."

Blood rushed to Korra's face "No! That's not it!"

Pemma held her chin and thought deeper. "You have feelings for him then? Sounds like he's in the same boat as you then." She laughed.

"No!" Korra's cry scared some of the lemurs away. "I don't have feelings for him, I mean I do but not those kind of feelings!"

Penma just smiled at Korra getting flustered. She acted the same way when her friends brought up a certain airbender in her acolyte days. "Okay Korra, settle down. Now why would he have a reason to be shy around you?" She vaguely remembered him from Tarrlock's gala and when he raised a fuss with Lin. He didn't come off as the shy type that night.

Korra caught her breath and composed herself. "First of all, 'shy' wasn't the right word. He's…secretive. I think, he thinks, that if he keeps this secret up he can protect himself. But ugh!…" Again she struggled with the words. This would be a lot easier if she could mention the platypus-bear in the room.

"You want to help him out but he won't let anyone in." Pemma finished her thought. "That about sum it up?"

"More or less, yeah."

"Who, that's a head scratcher all right. So he's his own worst enemy than." She looked at Korra with serious eyes. Turns out this wasn't a laughing matter. "Korra, I'm sorry to say this but there isn't a whole lot you can do in that situation. The only option I can think you should take is to just let him have his space and let him know that you're there for him when he's ready for help."

Korra wasn't happy with the answer. It was a sound plan but painfully slow. By the time he'd warm up to her he'd have thrown on that goofy costume and get himself beaten half to death again. Maybe worse.

"Then again…no never mind."

The addled Avatar perked up at the possible alternative. "What! What is it?"

"Korra I shouldn't, it's not my best piece of advice really." She admitted.

"Pemma, I just took relationship pointers from a couple of kids. I'm open to anything at the moment." Korra countered.

"Well in that case, you could forgo all of that and let your friend know what he's hiding. That way he knows that you know and there isn't a reason to keep the secret going." Pema didn't have a lot of confidence with her idea. "Or something like that."

Korra smiled and punched her palm in celebration. She liked the idea so much that she wondered why she didn't think of it first. No more tricks or pussy footing. "You should've lead with that Pemma!"

"Whoa, slow down Korra. You have to be careful. It's not a good idea to just go around pointing fingers." She warned. This may have worked with her mischievous childhood, but she didn't know how well it would work with someone Korra's own age.

That caveat tempered Korra's expectations to manageable levels. "I get it, thanks Pemma." She smiled to herself. No one said anything about trying both.

"By the way, you never told me what's the big secret." Pemma closed in to Korra's ear. This young man was peeking her interests. "I swear I won't tell a soul." She whispered with a cartoonish grin on her face.

Pemma's change in character left Korra stunned. She never saw this side of her. She didn't know it, but the old acolyte was the gossip queen in her youth. "He's umm…trying to be a pro wrestler…"She thought up a flimsy excuse to cover for Peter. Poindexter's tall tale skills were rubbing off on her.

Korra's revelation destroyed any interest Pemma had in the young man. "Oh, like tights and a little wring wrestling?"

"Yeah…" Korra almost cringed at the poor cover. "Apparently he goes around town 'training' and he's not very good if you know what I mean." She laughed nervously.

"So he jumps around practicing moves then?" She wondered what would drive such a smart looking boy to do something so strange. Kids didn't do stuff like that when she was that age. "Hmm. I can see why you wouldn't want people to know about that. He really doesn't look the type."

Korra let out more nervous laughter. She couldn't believe Pemma was buying this. No wonder poindexter got away with the farce for so long. "Yeah, he had me fooled too."

Before they could converse further, a loud crash rang out and disturbed the surrounding lemurs. Pemma held her head. She already knew who was responsible. "Well Korra it was nice chatting with you but-"

Another loud crash boomed across the island. Pemma sighed, motherhood was a cruel mistress. "Something tells me I should look into that."

"Thank you Pemma, you're a life saver." A faint yell graced the twos year. "Real sorry about the umm…"

"Oh don't be Korra." She smiled through the whirlwind of chaos coming from the Air Temple's living quarters. "Children are a blessing." Her husband's yelling didn't help her claims. "Some times. I have to go. Good luck with the tournament Korra." She left as fast as her feet would carry her to de-escalate the familial warfare.

Korra stood in the clearing to contemplate her options. She felt good. No matter how you sliced it, she would pull old poindexter out of the shadows and into the light. He was an ally she wanted in her corner. And with him on her side, Amon wouldn't stand a chance. Things were looking up, way up. All of her problems seemed like they were melting away. And to top it all off, she was about to be a part of a championship probending team. The Avatar was on cloud nine and nothing could knock her off.

"Yes!" She pumped her fist with vigor.

She picked up the empty food basket and caught a grazing lemur in the corner of her eye. She smiled and faced the confused lemur. "Alright Takuya let's cut to the chase! I know you're Spider-Man, don't ask me why, I just know." She dramatically rehearsed the scene to the wide eyed little monkey. "Now cut the lone wolf-bat nonsense, help me find Amon, and beat the snot out of that masked weirdo. What do you say?"

The lemur finally lost interest in the strange girl making noises and scurried off with the others.

Korra smiled and swung the bucket over her shoulder. "This is going to be a piece cake."

---

XXXxxx Future Industries: R&D Wing xxxXXX

The stench of old paper and machinery filled every wall of the derelict facility. The faint clicking of hand tools was the only sound in the empty office building. A lone light shined in the corner workbench.

Peter sat at the bench with five disk shape components strewn about. Wires and screws were laid before him but none of it distracted him from his task. His gifted mind was completely focused on the new contraption. It was a tricky little devil though. The electrical conduit was difficult to establish in such a small package. It wouldn't be a problem if it was the size of a hubcap but it would be a lot harder to conceal. The device's size was a difficult hurtle but the challenge was welcoming. He came to the main building after speaking with Mr. Sato and had been there for hours. His talks of seceret projects had sparked his sense of ingenuity. He was putting the finishing touches on the grunt work but was missing a key component. He had gotten the idea from Kaz's animal control prototype. The machine had an adverse effect on his spider-sense, which he figured he could use that strange frequency to his advantage. The devise would be a unique homing device that would only work for him. If he had thought of this devise in the past, he would've found Amon's little hidey whole ages ago.

The idea was that the disks would me magnetized and could broadcast a low yield frequency that his spider-sense would react to. It would then lead him to where the signal originated, thus finding where the disk ended up. He was lucky that he only had to broadcast one signal frequency, otherwise the damn thing would be as good as his torso. It was hard enough fitting the mechanism in a fist sized package.

The magnifying glass harness laid in front of him. Almost done. The assembly and wiring was relatively simple but he was fast approaching a brick wall. He didn't know what frequency Kaz's machine was keyed to that day. He had different meters attached to one of the disks and was running different settings to try to mimic Mr. Kaz's findings. He had to be careful however. The device would burn through the wires if he wasn't carful. That was one reason he made several disks just to be safe. It didn't help things that the small size made their inner workings even more fragile. Peter knew he could solve this issue, but it would take him around three weeks to do it.

Peter dropped his tools and scanned his immediate area just to be sure no one was around. He wouldn't like this, but time wasn't a luxury he had at the moment. He got up and moved into action and was in front of Mr. Kaz's office in no time. He scanned the room one more time, confirming that the coast was clear. With a one swift motion he slammed the door knob in and entered.

"A little B and E never hurt anybody right?" Peter whispered to himself as he moved to the file cabinet. He was glad Aunt May wasn't around to hear him say that. Her slaps were biblical. He fingered through the different files as quickly as possible. He didn't even bother turning on the lights and instead relied on his natural night vision to see. It took a moment, but he finally came across the animal control project files. As he flipped through the file his spider-sense alerted him to someone's presence. The unknown second party was already on him and he didn't have time to move. Hopefully it was just the nigh duty janitor. The Parker's were never lucky.

"What the...!" A voice cried rushed flipped on the light switch. An angry Kazuhara stood in the door way and caught Peter red handed. The office light almost blinded him. He needed to cover his eyes to adjust. "Takuya!?"

Peter recognized the voice and dropped the file on his desk. "Kaz!" He stood up still covering his (crimson) eyes. "What brings you here?" He bit his tongue at this poor choice of words. Why the hell would he say that?

"This is my office! I should be the one asking you that!" He shot back. "What are you doing in my office!? Did you break in here!?"

"No! I was walking through and I saw that your door was opened. I came in trying to fix the door." Even Peter had to admit that his alibi was a stretch, even by his standards.

"You just happen to find my door broken and you tried to fix it?" Kaz challenged Peter's story.

"Yup." Peter awaited the tongue lashing he was about to receive.

Kaz just sighs and drops his coat on of the chairs. "Well that figures."

Peter couldn't believe his ears. Kaz was a smart man, so why did he just buy his lackluster story. "Huh?"

"Yeah. Mr. Sato had some heavy equipment transferred off sight a few days ago. Those meat head movers must've bumped into my door and broke it." Kaz summarized.

Peter was relieved. He just averted a major snafu on dumb luck and chance.

"So are you going to tell me how you waltzed into my office Takuya? Or am I going to have to take this up with Mr. Sato?" He folded waiting for an explanation.

'Guess I'm not that lucky.' It didn't take Peter long to weigh his options. He couldn't weasel his way out of this. Kaz was too sharp for that. "Well, I was working on a downsized version on your animal control device, but I ran into a snag. I saw that your door was open and I couldn't resist. I just wanted to make sure that my version was safe for human use."

Kaz face softened a bit. That was a good sign, but he wasn't out of the woods yet. "And this couldn't wait until after the work break?"

"It could've, but I was impatient." He rubbed his nape and looked away. Telltale signs of a guilty man.

Kaz reached for his research files and flipped through it. It wasn't disturbed. "So you wanted to look through my findings to make sure. Is that right?"

"More or less."

"Uh-huh. Does this have anything to do with you spazzing when I was adjusting the transponder." Kazuhara deduced.

Peter nodded. He was surprised Kaz even remembered his little episode. The man had a mind like a steel trap. "You read my mind Mr. Kaz."

Kaz didn't take it as a compliment. "Eh, I just put two and two together. It's nothing special." He brushed it aside with a shrug and continued. "So why are you in the office? It's late."

"I don't know if you heard about this, but I got mugged a while back and, well, I've been having a hard time sleeping. So I figured some work would take my mind off the whole thing. I just started tinkering and started working on something similar to your invention." Peter's words had shreds of truth strewn about here and there. Building the disks was a welcomed distraction from bigger issues. "I was always going to cut you in on my findings, I was just-"

"Impatient…" Kaz concluded for him. The scientist regarded Peter for a moment. The guilt written on his face was the last confirmation he needed. "The frequency log isn't here." He held up the file in question and walked around his desk. He opened a drawer and rummaged through it before pulling out a folder. "I came to the same conclusion and made sure to document it." He slide the file over to Peter. "Hard to market a product if it gives migraines, am I right?"

His behavior threw Peter for a loop. He wasn't used to adults being so understanding. "Agreed. Why are you helping me?"

"Because I was young once. I was a smooth talker too." Kaz continued to scan the log. "I thought I could talk my way out of everything. Word to the wise Takuya, people tend to catch on to the act after a while."

Peter was speechless. Did he know more than he was letting on? No. How could he? They've only crossed paths a couple of times.

"Take it from me Takuya, the truth is like water on a boat. No matter how well you build it, it always finds a way in. Here we go 90214 Hz knew it started with a nine" He pulled a sheet from a stationary, wrote it down, and handed it to Peter.

"Wow Mr. Kaz, I don't know what to say." Peter graciously accepted the boon.

"How about 'thank you'? Whatever. Look, next time just ask me if you need help with something. The worst thing I could do is say 'no'." He kneeled down and picked up the dislodged door knob. "Stinking slack jawed meatheads." He mumbled.

"Got it. By the way, why are you here so late?"

He grimaced at Peter's question. He had hopped the subject would be dropped. "My daughter's birthday's coming up and she has her dad's deductive mind. She was tearing up the apartment trying to find her present early. So I left it here so she wouldn't find it." He pulled out a cardboard box with a doll in it.

Peter muffled his laugher. "Seriously?"

Kaz frowned at him. "Yes Takuya, seriously."

"I'm sorry Kaz, just seeing someone like you holding that it just…" Peter couldn't hold it and started laughing. "Look it's nice, I'm sure she'll love it."

"It's an overpriced piece of junk that she'll get bored with in a couple of weeks." He admitted. "But it'll make her happy, that's all that matters."

"Umm I'm going to let you uh..." Peter didn't know what to say. "Thank for the help Mr. Kaz."

Peter rushed out of the office and back to his invention.

Kaz stood alone in his office and looked at the expensive tool. He could've put a loan out on the stupid thing. "The things I do for love."

Peter flopped onto his chair and fiddled with one of the disks. His hands were a blur as he adjusted its settings. Everything was set according to Kaz's settings, but he hesitated to flip the switch. This didn't go so well last time. He took a deep breath and flipped the switch. The disk worked. He flinched at the sudden rush to his senses. The radio waves resonated in his head and he could physically feel them bouncing around in the base of his skull. It wasn't nearly as bad as the first time, but it was still too irritating. The signal might have been significantly weaker and bearable, but 'sounded' like nails scratching a chalkboard. He adjusted the voltage and the high pitch wailing died down to a steady but noticeable hum. It took him all day and some help, but Pete had done it. His spider-sense was triggered and was still coherent. He finalized its assembly and drew on a crude spider insignia.

He help up the finished devise like a trophy and grinned. "I dub thee, spider-tracer."

XXXxxx Republic City Streets: A couple of blocks from Future Industries xxxXXX

The frigid temperatures and bitter wind chill did nothing to sour Peter's mood. He was ecstatic. He had just created a homing device that worked exclusively with his powers. Was there anything like it? He did come across some of Dr. Pym's published works. It was radical stuff. Dr. Pym was on the verge of controlling insects with radio waves. No one ever knew if he was successful or not. Pete smiled at the thought of standing shoulder to shoulder with a scientist of his caliber. His mind was racing with different ideas for the tracers. There was so much potential packed into such a small package. Search and rescue, asset tracking, nautical beacons, the list went on in Peter's head. He was so happy he could skip home and wouldn't give a damn what anyone thought. Maybe he could get some royalties if he got them patented. He wondered if this world even had a patent office.

While he was lost in his private party, two individuals emerged from a parallel alley ways and slowly closed in on him. They covered his flanks and looked ahead for any more passer-by's. This wasn't their first rodeo. They saw a dumpy looking kid who was out way past his bed time. He was carrying something and was oblivious to his surroundings. No one in their right mind could pass up such an easy mark.

The tag team played it smart. They didn't out right jump him, but slowly approached the mark from the rear.

"Nice night, huh guys." Peter greeted them like old friends. He didn't bother looking at the two men behind him. It was obvious what their intent was. He kept walking, they might lose their nerve and turn tail. His peripheral vision did gather a few details from his would be assailants. One was significantly bigger than the other.

Yao and Ling were career criminals. Their working relationship was simple and binding. Ling was the shorter man who did most of the talking while Yao was the bone breaker. Their specialties were petty crimes and knock-around gigs. They did everything from aggravated assaults to taking odd jobs from the triads and loan sharks. Both men had several arrests under their belts with flimsy convictions. A couple months here and there, neither of them did any serious time. They pulled the occasional mugging when business was scares. The triads were laying low at the moment while the loan sharks didn't call until after the tournament. So needless to say, they've played this number quite a few times. But they never came across a mark who casually greeted the scary looking men walking up to them.

Both men look at one another but decided to proceed with the bit. A guy's gotta eat, right?

Ling smiled and jogged next to Peter. "It sure is friend, but man is it late. You know what time it is? You know it's not safe out here, right? Especially at this hour." The seasoned crook played his part to a tee. Ease the mark in and hand out some 'friendly' advice.

Peter kept his eyes locked ahead and continued to walk like he was the only one on the sidewalk. "So I hear. But don't worry, I think I'll make it home in one piece."

The fake smile was wiped clean off his face but he kept up with the act. He wasn't the least bit amused. "I wouldn't be sure about that. Say, what you got in that bag anyway?"

"Nothing you'd be interested in." Peter put some base in his voice. This conversation was getting old.

Yao was also losing his patience. Ling was his boy and all, but he had a hard time cutting to the chase. He stepped in front of Peter and stopped him in his tracks. "The man asked you a question!"

Peter faced the imposing man casually. He wasn't the least bit concerned. "Fine. I got diamonds, gold, and pieces of valuable art. You know, nothing special."

Ling grinned. "Well would you look at that. Kid's a little comedian."

Ling got a kick out of the mark trying to be cool, but Yao wasn't having any of it.

"Yeah well, I ain't laughin'." He grabbed Peter by the collar of his coat. "I'll make this nice and simple kid. Empty your pockets, drop your bag, and keep walkin' or I'll break your face. You're choice."

Peter eyes locked with Yao's. The would-be robber towered over him and his spider-sense told him he wasn't bluffing. The guy's face looked rough. Faint scars were scattered around his face and jaw. He must've walked away from dozens of street fights. He was a serious customer and Peter was sure he couldn't talk his way out of this.

Ling crossed his arms like he already won. "I'd listen to him if I were you Poindexter." He chimed.

That line broke the camel's back. The teenager left Ling and Yao awestruck. The two pulled this routine several times and the marks usually did one of three things: they would beg for their lives, do what they were told and dropped the goods, or try running away. But Peter did none of that. What he did do left the two hardened criminals slightly unnerved. Parker stood there, Yao still holding him up with a very firm grip, and laughed like he just heard the greatest joke of all time.

Peter couldn't help but laugh at his circumstances. The lie he told Asami and the ferrets just came to pass. He was getting mugged by a stereotypical wise guy and his bet goon. His cover just turned into reality.

The two thugs turned to each with matching incredulous looks. They didn't know how to deal with crazy. Yao got to his senses first and pressed his demands.

"You mental kid!?" Yao shook him but he was still laughing. "We ain't messin' around here. If you don't do what I tells you then I'll-"

"-Break my face, I heard you the first time." Peter stopped laughing at the knockoff Palooka but was still spurting a smile. "Tell you what, you two look like sporting guys. How's about we have a little wager."

Yao cocked his fist back, he was a man of his word, but Ling stopped him. He didn't know where this was going but it was staring to get interesting. "Let him go Yao, Let's here what he's got in mind."

Yao followed he partners command and released the crazed mark.

Peter adjusted his rustled jacked and addressed the two. "You want my bag of goodies so bad, let's fight for it." It was rare that this side of Peter surfaced. At least not without his 'game face' anyway. He would flip his rotten Parker luck into something productive. This was a perfect opportunity to test out what Sifu Lei taught him. 'Oh god, now I'm calling him sifu.' He kicked the thought aside and moved on to the matter at hand. "If your friend here can land a punch on me than I'll hand over the bag no problem. But if he can't hit me in one minute then you two will let me go on my marry way. How's that sound?" Peter twisted the knife whit a smug grin. Truth be told, he'd been itching for some action for a while now. And his 'fight' with the moon spirit proved that the monkey on his back didn't always come out to play.

Peter's goading had the opposite effect on Ling. His heart wasn't in it anymore and there was clearly something wrong with the kid. Yao had to have one-hundred pounds on him and was solid muscle. He may be a little portly around the waist but was faster than he looked. The nerdy looking kid didn't have a chance. "Come on Yao let's beat it. The guys off his rocker or something."

Yao wasn't having any of it and shoved past his partner in crime. "No way, little punk just called me out." He grinned backed at Peter and pointed at a lone street light. "Make it two minutes and you're on."

"Sure." Peter followed the bearded gorilla and met him under the street light, never taking his eye off of him. He got into his stance and awaited for the inevitable. It was time to see if his training would fare in the streets. He would make sure not to use any of his any of his old tricks. "Hope you fight better than you trash talk."

Yao chuckled at the misplaced bravado and launched a broad, powerful, uppercut aimed at Peter's jaw.

Peter arched his back and felt the air cascade around Yao's fist, just like Kung-Lei taught him. His spider-sense did warn him but then he already knew what was coming from the way Yao was standing. Sifu Lei threw imaginary punches just like this.

Yao wasn't deterred and continued the assault. He closed in to Peter and threw several combinations.

Peter weaved and dodged everything the thug could throw at him. Again his sixth sense warned him what was coming but he did too. His training was telling him what to look for more so than his spider-sense. He paid attention to Yao's footing, the way he punched, where he was looking, how his body rolled and twisted with each blow. The thug was a competent fighter but extremely basic. He surmised that Yao used his intimidating size more than his skills. The career knock around guy was an open book. Peter's training, in conjunction with his senses, effortlessly dodged his everything Yao could throw at him. He wasn't using his senses to the fullest and he was still holding his own. It was a strange feeling to say the least and hard to explain. His spider-sense went from a foghorn to a gentle nudge. It was like it was reminding him of the danger instead of outright telling him. Did he outgrow it?

'Combat-sense?' Peter tried to dub the odd sensation as he ducked under another jab.

Ling couldn't take his eyes off the sheer spectacle before him. He'd seen old Yao fight off four guys at once. He even took on some mouthy benders and came out on top. Yao lost a couple of fights in the past. That sort of thing comes with the territory when you knock heads for a living. But this was different. Yao was quick for his size, but he couldn't lay a finger on this scrawny little punk.

"What the heck is going on?" He thought out loud. "Who is this guy…"

Peter's technique were proficient but far from masterful. It was a mix of basic form with the spider-sense doing the rest of the leg work. It wasn't anything special. Peter could do much more and he imagined Lei would be yelling his head off at how sloppy his form was. There were gaps in his defense. He left his gut and half his face wide open. His footing was clumsy. It didn't help that he voluntarily limited himself to Kung-Lei's training. He stepped out from a right hook and thought that it wasn't so bad. He had good fundamentals under his belt and would only get better with time.

'Wish I fought like this against Prowler.' The grinned at the thought of a potential rematch with the fake villain.

Yao was inching towards his limits of his stamina. He was fast for a big guy but he couldn't go the distance. If this was a sanctioned fight, he would only be good for two or three rounds. His breathing was uneven and his arms burned with fatigue. But seeing this smug punk's sly grin brought up a second wind in him. He closed in and launched another barrage.

"Huh…huh…You think this is funny!?" Yao wheezed.

"No, I was thinking of something else." He told him as he easily evaded Yao's sloppy swings. He already gave him his best. This was just desperation at this point. "By the way, your times about up. Of course you could always call it qui-" He was interrupted by a pathetic cross. It would be better to finish this little contest in silence. He didn't want to provoke the man any further.

As another sloppy punch missed its mark, something familiar had caught his eye. He had an audience. Two red heads in stale but high class threads calmly watched the duel before them. The Lutece twins looked on, mildly amused at Peter's antics.

"Mr. Parker!" Robert said sitting atop a trash can.

"Is this a bad time?" Rosaline asked standing next to her 'brother'.

"Wha!" Peter was in open shock. He never thought he would cross paths with the twins. But here they were at the worst time possible under worse circumstances.

Yao didn't know what the kid was looking at and he didn't care. He capitalized on the kid's confusion and landed a big right hook to his cheek. He winced after the blow. It felt like he had just punched a piece of cedar wood. But the adrenaline was pumping, so he ignored his throbbing hand. He was too proud that he finally hit the elusive target.

"HA! Atta boy Yao!" Ling cheered for his friend. The kid's got some moves but must've gotten spooked in the end. Probably realized he was in over his head. "That's showing 'em whose boss!"

Peter staggered. His glasses flew off his face and he was out of step. Yao didn't do much. He only left Peter with a nose bleed and a little out of sorts. He'd been through much worse. The two stooges were too busy celebrating to realize that he was still standing. Thankfully his face wouldn't bruise, but he did taste blood.

Sweat rolled down Yao's face despite the cold. His breathing was labored. "Not so…cocky now…are you…"A weak smile was drown on his face.

Peter rubbed his face and spit out some loose blood. "You tagged me, good for you." His demeanor wasn't that of a defeated man. He treated the major hit like a love tap. "But your time ran out. You loose, but thank you for playing."

"What!? How would you know?" Ling protested for Yao. The larger man was too busy catching his breath.

"I counted to one-hundred and twenty and your buddy was still swinging." He said plainly as he picked up his glasses. His attention was on the apparently invisible twins behind him. They were far more important than this petty contest. The twins never showed up for idle chitchat. He turned his back to the petty thugs and stepped towards the twins. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got people to see."

The two looked on with bewildered looks. This mark laughed at them, challenged Yao, and now he was completely ignoring them. Did the loony bin have a break out? Ling wanted nothing to do with the guy, but the cold shoulder had the opposite effect on Yao.

"Yao, let's just go home, huh? This is getting weird."

"Heck no! Get back here kid! We ain't done!" Yao yelled out, outright ignoring Ling.

"Sure feels over."

Yao grinded his teeth. He can't remember the last time he was this angry. "Hey! I ain't done talkin' to you!" He yelled and threw another punch aimed at the back of Peter's head. "I SAID WE AIN'T DONE!"

Peter turned around and caught the man's vicious punch like a softball. He didn't struggle or budge. He looked uninterested, but he did lock eyes with the large man. All of his power, along with some extra momentum, went into that last punch and Peter snuffed it out in his palm. Then he started to squeeze. Yao felt his knuckles start to buckle and break to the young man's monstrous grip. His fury turned into panic. He tried to free his hand from the boy's vise grip but failed miserably. This kid was a monster!

Again, Ling was astonished by this strange guy they tried to rob. What he was seeing was impossible. A light weight was man-handling a six-foot-five wall of muscle like a mother restraining an angry toddler. He was speechless. The only thing stopping him from running for his life was his loyalty to Yao. He would step in but paralyzing fear made him stay put. All he could do was watch.

"You should quite while you're ahead." Peter advised as he released Yao. The big man stumbled and landed on his butt. If he had squeezed any harder he would've shattered the man's hand. "Or do you want to see how this ends?" He looked down at the trembling. "Your choice big guy."

Yao couldn't talk. He couldn't move. All he could do was cradle his damaged hand and look at his tormentor. The cocky little snot was gone. His eyes were cold and unfeeling. He didn't yell. Hell, he didn't even look angry. Every instinct in his body screamed one thing: don't mess with this guy. He shuffled to his feet and started to run. "Ling! Let's get out outta here!"

Ling followed his instruction and was right behind him. He'd call him a coward if he hadn't witnessed it. That was the smartest thing he said all night. "Hurry let's go!"

Peter sighed and made his way to the twins. He dreaded the looming conversation. It was easier to pull teeth than to talk to these two sometimes. Rosaline clapped while Robert chuckled.

"Great show Mr. Parker!" Rosaline congratulated. "You showed those rapscallions what's what alright."

"Yes yes, good show." Robert joined in. "But I must say I'm rather disappointed in you Mr. Parker. We know your costumed heroics can be violent, but that was just barbaric."

"Five seconds in and your already dressing me down." Peter complained. "For your information what you just say was a little test. That's all."

"Hmm, well we beg your pardon young man. We had no intention of interrupting your fisticuff contest." Robert said while holding up his fist like a nineteenth century boxer, mocking him.

"I guess you were right Robert. The boy is a ruffian at heart." Rosaline agreed. "He just can't help playing in the muck can he?"

Peter sighed at the twin's trade mark condescension and passive insults. "I repeat: it was just a test. Not mindless violence."

"Looked like a couple of hooligans 'mixing it up' as they say." Robert voiced his opinion.

"Honestly, he looked like he was enjoying himself." Rosaline added. "Just like a hooligan. How positively American of you."

"I'm not a…Look, what are you here for. Did you find anything useful?" Peter steered the conversation to a more productive subject.

"Not much I'm afraid." Rosaline delivered the bad news with a hint of remorse.

Robert picked up on this and stepped in. "It's clear that there is an intelligence behind your displacement, but we couldn't find a trace of his, or its, presence."

"It would seem that this being took great measure not to be discovered. The only reason we know of this is from your testimony and us witnessing the act." Rosaline finished the report.

"So that's it then? You just shrug your shoulders and tell me you don't know anything?" Peter groaned. This was a hard pill to swallow. "I thought you two were supposed to be the experts on this infinite dimensional stuff. Are you telling me this 'intelligence' is better than you?"

"Yes." Robert admitted.

"Considerably." Rosaline confirmed.

The twins spoke the truth. Peter struggled to comprehend what was really going on. He rubbed his nape nervously. "What the hell am I dealing with?"

"We'd very much like to know ourselves." Robert admitted.

"We've exhausted every ounce of our knowledge and expertise into this investigation Mr. Parker. I'm afraid that this being eclipses our knowledge by a wide margin."

The Luteces played hopscotch with time and space and this force had them stumped. How do you face something like that?

"What do I…God, what can I do against that?" Peter asked. He felt the gravity of his situation.

The twin's demeanor twisted. They were just as flummoxed as he was.

"It would appear that we're in the same boat on that matter." Rosaline confessed.

"I'm afraid that the only available option is to wait and see what this mastermind's next move is." Robert advised.

"Can I ask you about something else?" Peter attempted to change the subject. The looming sense of doom shook him to the core.

"We're all ears Mr. Parker."

"Do you know anything about spirits?"

They looked at Peter like he grew another head.

"A spirit? Like a phantom?" Rosaline asked.

"Apparitions?"

Peter maintained his composure. He has gotten used to the twins circle talk. "Yes, on all accounts. Do you know anything about them?"

The two turned to one another. They wordlessly agreed on an answer.

"The only thing that comes to mind is a siren." Robert told him.

"A siren? Like the monsters from the Iliad?"

"No, it's a nick name for the entity we are referring to." Robert divulged and pondered how to explain it. Which can be difficult to comprehend. "It's a being that exists between life and death."

Peter wasn't prepared for such a morbid concept. His face went white. If he had heard this from anyone else, he'd just blow it off as a terrible ghost story. But it came straight out of the Lutecee twins mouth so the claim had considerable weight behind it. "That's…How is that even possible?"

Again the twins were faced with simplifying their unorthodox world. "Let's say you hold up an apple and then you drop it."

"The apple doesn't just fall on its own. Gravitational forces are at work that pull the apple down to earth."

"But what if the process were interrupted?"

"The apple wouldn't drop."

"That, in simplified terms, is what a siren is."

"A person dies, but death doesn't take them."

"That person exists in a suspended state. They are translucent and wail endlessly. That's why we call them psirens."

Their explanation left him speechless. It was such a horrible concept. He couldn't imagine a greater hell. The twins deadpan look through the explanation was a little unnerving as well. Suddenly, his problem with the spider spirit didn't seem so bad.

"Did that answer your question Mr. Parker?" Robert asked.

"No, that's not what I was talking about." Peter blankly replied. He had seen a lot in his short life, but nothing like that, thankfully. "I meant spirits of different things. Like the spirit of the moon or the ocean. That kind of stuff."

Robert looked confused and sat on the thought for a few seconds. "Hmm. Are you referring to something like a ghost?"

"Poltergeist?" Rosaline added.

"Apparitions?"

Peter remained calm. "Yes, on all accounts. Do you know anything?"

"Of course not dear boy. They're bloody fiction." Robert chided

"Perhaps Mr. Parker is suffering from some latent brain damage?" Rosaline speculated.

"Makes sense. All those blows to the head finally caught up with him." Robert diagnosed. "The mind is a powerful but delicate instrument after all."

"Alright, they don't exist, I get it." Peter cut their little tirade short and playacted the two. The question didn't yield the desired result but it did shed some light on the two. The Lutecee twins, with all their knowledge and experience, knew next to nothing about the supernatural. They may have brushed past similar phenomenon, but never the genuine article. It looked like spirituality was above their pay grade.

"Of course."

"Had us worried there for a moment." Rosaline admitted and turned to her brother. The two wordlessly agreed on the next course of action. They had an inquiry of their own. The twins knew of the 'intelligence's' superior understanding of time and space for quite some time now. They didn't show it but that was a hard pill to swallow. When they came to this conclusion they instead turned their attention on Peter. What made him so special? Why go through all the trouble to subject him to this cruel and unusual plight? They dug deep into the frustrated young man standing before them. The twins found discrepancies and Peter's testimony would either confirm or dash their findings. The 'siblings' hesitated. The mind is a delicate instrument. They needed to tread carefully.

"Mr. Parker we have a question for you, if you don't mind us asking of course." Robert made the first move.

"We hope you don't mind. Your cooperation would be a great help to us." Rosaline complimented her other's tactic.

Peter was puzzled at the twin's spontaneous spurt of manners. He scuffed and brushed it aside. "That's a first, you know-it-alls asking me a question. Go ahead, shoot."

"Adrian Toomes. Vulture. Do you recall what happened when he confronted your aunt?" Robert asked the question like a lawyer. Clear and to the point.

Peter's heart raced when Robert uttered that name. It always did. "How do you know that?"

"We have our methods." Rosaline matched Roberts's professionalism. "Please answer the question, your account of the incident is vital."

That was easier said than done. The thought of the murderous circus geek would now and forever make Peter's blood boil. The memory was damn near debilitating, but he still had enough since not to break things. He gritted his teeth and answered. "I was cracking down on Osborn's operation and, long story short, he sent the vulture to my house looking for all the dirt Mr. Urich dug up on him. He was looking for me but ended up finding my aunt." He paused, trembling in rage. If he had come a minute later. It was his first outing as Spider-Man and Urich's file was his road map. He went out every night and systematically busted every 2 bit mobster on that file. He took a breath and continued. "I had caught wind of this and high tailed it back home. I got there in the nick of time and managed to stop him before he could do anything."

"Umm-hmm and how did you stop the vulture?" Robert went deeper and paid close attention to Peter's demeanor.

"I used to carry my uncle's old service revolver in the beginning. When I saw that monster threatening my aunt I pulled it out and told him to let her go. He thought I was bluffing, a part of me was, so I cocked the hammer back and told him again." Peter held his hand out like a gun and pointed. He didn't tell the twins, but he was deathly afraid that he would've missed and hit his aunt. He never handled a firearm in his life, not even a toy gun. "Vulture called my bluff, dropped May, and lunged at me. Then I…"

An invisible force stopped and interrupted Peter's story. His hand wouldn't stop shaking. Images as clear as day flooded his psyche. He was facing Vulture wearing his first costume and holding the revolver. Ben showed it to him when he was younger and told him it wasn't a toy. He was right. It was cold, heavy. This was a tool. The carnivorous killer charged at him with a haunting howl. He didn't face a man, but a beast with its back to the wall. It was strange. In that moment, he wasn't afraid or angry. There was an odd sense of clarity in that moment. Vulture was close enough to see his clouded gray eyes. One image flashed through his mind just before Toomes could get his hands on him. Ben Parker, his surrogate father, mutilated in his own basement. That was all the convincing Peter needed. He pulled the trigger again and again until an oddly loud click snapped him out of it. He looked down and was treated to a fresh horror. Adrian Toomes, The Vulture, lying dead before his feet. His blood soaked the soles of his boots. May gasped at the carnage. But that didn't make any sense. The vulture wasn't dead. If that were the case, then who did he fight for the fragment? Who did he chase through the streets? Who set that apartment on fire? An acute ringing resonated through his skull. It was unbearable. And just as quickly as it started, it was over. Where did that come from?

"Uh…Sorry about that. I pulled the trigger and wounded the bastard." He told the twins, still clutching his head. Maybe the cold air didn't agree with his sinuses. "Bird boy howled like an animal and jumped out the window. He resurfaced when the fragment stuff went down. Too bad, I thought I killed the bastard. Guess monsters get lucky too." He finished the story. His migraine was fading but his nose started to run. Did he catch a cold? "That answer your question?"

"More than you know." Rosaline answered.

The twins were somber but to the point. They let out a sigh in unison Their mission just got a lot more complicated.

"Good, so I was thinking that…" He turned his head up and saw no one. The Lutecee's vanished without a trace. "…you would pull that little disappearing act in the middle of my sentence. Because that never gets old , right?"

He disregarded their rude exit and started to make his way home. His nose kept running, but he felt fine. He touched his nose to investigate and was startled to see blood.

'Huh. Guess old Yao packed a bigger punch than I thought.' He balled up some snow and placed in on his cheek. His Parker luck was in full effect.

---

XXXxxx Pro Bending Arena: Championship Tournament first round xxxXXX

Bitter cold winds and a light flurry greeted the oncoming spectators as they piled into the arena. The building's brilliant orange lights gave it an alluring glow. It was as if the fans were entering hollowed grounds. The gentle dusting only enhanced its beauty. The falling snow, coupled with the spot lights, made it look like glitter confetti was there to mark the occasion.

The energy radiating from the arena could be felt from a ten block radius. The people were oddly courteous to one another. They calmly got refreshments, chugged it up with acquaintances, and made it to their seats without much fuss. The closest thing to unruly behavior came from the fans debating about their favorite teams and even that was just tongue and cheek banter. The tickets in their pockets felt like little gold bricks. The pricey tickets were a bargain compared to the king's ransom the scalpers were asking for. Some of them had tickets reserved from a couple of years back and they still ran the risk of getting a crummy seat to the event. None of that mattered, not to a true fan anyway. The only thing that mattered was that they got to see the biggest sporting event in the city with their own two eyes. To a republic city native, it was one of the highest honors they could achieve. They were the lucky few. If the arena could support the numbers, most of the citizens would be in attendance. The rest were tuning in to a live broadcast in their homes, bars and restaurants across the city state. The other nations had their traditions. They had festivals and plays, but Pro-Bending was wholly owned by Republic City. Others were welcomed to duplicate it, but everyone knew what land invented this amazing sport and every native celebrated this fact. The cheers echoed through the halls leading to the lavish box seats sitting above the normal seats. Guess they were all cheap seats compared to this.

Peter pulled at his suit collar as he walked with Asami. "Heck of a shindig huh? Match hasn't even started yet and there already scramming bloody murder."

Asami chuckled. "Only an 'out of towner' would say something like that."

"Forgive my insolence Princess Sato." He spoke a mockingly posh accent. "I'm just a lowly commoner from a far off land who isn't familiar with you…umm…customs." Peter jabbed while fidgeting with his custom fitted straight jacket.

"Very funny. So how's the training coming?"

Peter smiled to himself. "Sifu Lei is something else. The exercises he's running me through is a little dull but the techniques are surprisingly effective." He punched his palm as he recalled his little field test.

"How would you know? You two can't be sparing already it's too soon."

Again Peter pulled at the tight collar. "Yeah well you see umm…I meant to say that Sifu Lei's technique has a lot of potential. That's what I meant to say." He fumbled but stuck the landing.

"That's a relief. Thought you were running around town looking for fights or something."

"Why would I do that?" He played along.

"You wouldn't, you're too smart. It's just something I tried doing back in the day." She admitted and turned to him. "And why are you squirming so much?"

"It's this suit." He admitted. "Something must be wrong with it. It's been driving me nuts since I put it on."

"Let me take a look." Asami stopped and inspected his attire.

Blood rushed to his face. "Uh thanks. By the way, why aren't you all dolled up?" He remarked on Asami's casual dress.

"It's a Pro Bending match Takuya, not a fundraiser."

"Oh."

She undid his tie (Do they wear ties?) and redone it. "Your tie was too tight that's all. Better?"

Peter moved his head around and his shirt was considerably more comfortable. "Yeah. Where'd you pick that up? Sifu Lei teach you the secret art of men's apparel too?"

"I used to help dad get dressed when he was trying to sell his satomobile idea. He would pull all nighters and fall asleep at his desk. So me and mom would get his clothes ready when he woke up."

"That was nice of you."

"I helped out where I could." She didn't shed any more light on the sore subject. "Here we are."

The two teens approached a door with the Future Industries logo and entered. The suite was lavishly furnished. Refreshments lined a wall and it even had its own bathroom. Peter wondered how Yankee stadium boxes stacked up to it.

"Takuya! Glad you could make it." Hiroshi got up from his seat and patted him on the shoulder. He turned to his daughter. "You sure took your sweet time. I was afraid you two got lost."

"Come on dad, you know traffic is crazy this time of year. Especially with the Tournament in full swing." Asami explained as she dropped in her chair. The trip to the arena was surprisingly strenuous. "Had to dodge a few fenders on the way too."

"You know you could've saved yourself a lot of grief if you two rode with me." Hiroshi sat next to his daughter.

"Yeah, but Fat drives like an old woman." Asami scuffed. The thought made her skin crawl.

Peter chuckled at the name. "Fat?"

"What? Its dad's driver." Asami didn't see any humor in the man's name. "He drove us to the councilman's gala, remember?"

"Oh right." Peter took a seat. "Must've slipped my mind." Guess Fat was a common name here.

"So Takuya, I hear this is your first time seeing a Pro Bending match." Hiroshi chimed in.

"I caught a few matches on the radio but this is the first one I get to see in person." Peter told them with genuine excitement. "You a fan Mr. Sato?"

Hiroshi fought back the urge to sneer at Peter's repulsive question. "I'm afraid not Takuya." He said, hiding his distaste with his trademark corporate smile. "Honestly, I'm just here to spend some quality time with Asami. I never really had a knack for these sort of things."

Asami giggled. "Believe me Takuya, I've been barking up that tree for a while. He probably thinks it's too violent or something."

"Nonsense! Just because I'm not a fan doesn't mean I'm squeamish to violence. You're making me sound like some kind of wimp." Hiroshi protested the claim.

"What else could it be dad?" Asami teased. "I can't see how anyone could not be a Pro Bending fan."

Peter snickered at the bickering. It was like they were going through a comedy routine.

"That's pretty harsh Asami. There's plenty of things to enjoy. The fire in the crowd, you two having a good time." Hiroshi explained. "Just because I'm not too fond of the main event doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself."

"Guess that makes…" The dimming lights and a gentle nudge cut Peter's insight short.

Asami was quick to drop the subject. "Pipe down Takuya, it's starting."

Spot lights danced across the stands. The crowd was going wild as a snazzy dressed man rose atop a hidden mechanical lift in the center of the ring. The radio announcer was commenting for the folks who couldn't make it to the arena. The cheers from the fan's resonated throughout the enclosed dome. The vibrations could be felt from the box seats all the way to the foundations.

"Introducing our first Team! The Future Industries Fire Ferrets!" The announcer's voice boomed through the intercom. Korra and Mako were quiet and focused. They checked their headgear and steeled themselves for whatever their opponents would throw at them. Bolin was another story. The earthbender loved the attention and waived to the fans. He didn't feel anxious about the match. These matches rarely did.

It was a welcome well suited to the company's Pro Bending team. Asami cheered and blew a kiss to her boyfriend. Hiroshi smiled and looked on while Peter just sat in awe. The match didn't even start yet and the audience was already going nuts. It just downed on him how big this sport was and was eager to see what happened next.

"And their opponents, the Red Sand Rabaroos!"

The all-female team approached the ring with poise and focus. They worked their butts off to make it this far and they weren't going to let an upstart team like the Fire Ferrets stops them from getting to the top.

Peter was on the edge of his seat. An all-female team and a reincarnated bending deity made flesh were about to duck it out in front of thousands of people with magical element powers. Sometimes Peter forgot that he was in a different world. If he ever told anyone back home what he was seeing now, the state of New York would try to have him committed.

The two teams approached each other's zone and waited for the referee to start the match. The starting bell rung and the elements collided in a vicious barrage from both teams. The opening salvo forced them to retreat back to their zones to maneuver. The Rabaroos got to their positions they practiced, but the Ferrets were much faster. Before the Rabaroos could counter, the Ferrets were already in prime positions and staging their own assault. The Rabaroos were shocked at the level of cohesion. One by one they were pushed back to zone two and three. The Ferrets were the clear winners of the opening round.

Peter looked on in wonder. The sheer spectacle mesmerized him. The way they moved and worked off each other was something to behold. The radio, no matter how bombastic the host was, could never do Pro Bending justice. It was like a cross between a three man boxing match and a game of dodge ball. He should've caught a match sooner. He agreed with Asami. How could anyone not be a fan of Pro-Bending?

The bell for the second match rang and the third round commenced. The Ferret's set a precedence and the Rabaroos struggled to keep up. Their defenses were shattered and their attacks missed their mark. Abi knew she was a good team captain, and proved that her team was championship material. So why couldn't she rally her team against the Fire Ferret's viciously efficient offence? They limped into round three, but the writing was on the wall. All three of them were pushed back to the third zone and the bell saved them the humiliation of a knock out, barely. The audience went crazy. The Ferrets celebrated their victory while the Rabaroos stood in the ring humiliated.

Umi buried her face in her arm while Ula openly cried. All their hard work was snuffed out in minutes. Abi's mind raced to find an explanation to what just happened. She sucked it up and approached her grieving team.

Umi turned to the captain. "This is total garbage they wouldn't even be here if the Avatar wasn't on their team!"

"Umi…"

"We shot through the qualifiers *sniff* were better than this right?" Ula asked.

"Of course we are!" Umi proclaimed. "I'm telling you if they didn't have the Avatar we wo-"

"Girls!"Abi demanded her team's attention.

The two turned to see their captain. Her eyes were watered, but she maintained her composure. She wasn't happy with the outcome either. "We did our best and I'm proud of both of you. Now, I don't like it either, but now's not the time to be crying foul. So suck it up and leave with your heads up. Alright."

Adi's words lifted her team's spirits and followed her lead off the ring. Even in the face of defeat, the Rabaroos waved to the cheering crowd.

"We'll get them next time ladies."

Asami and Peter clapped and cheered for the company team along with the rest of the fans.

Mr. Sato just stayed in his seat, smiled, and clapped. His blood boiled as he played his part. At least the match was mercifully short.

Asami waited for the excitement to die down to address Peter. "So, what do you think? Pretty cool huh?"

"It's nuts but in a good way! Heh, I don't know what I just watched, but I love it!" Peter struggled to string along a coherent sentence. For a few minutes he wasn't a displaced foreigner in a strange land, an infamous vigilante, or an alleged monster. Now he was an animated new fan of an impossible sport. "It's like a football game and a prize fight with some baseball rules!" He shouted.

Asami understood his excitement but questioned the odd comparisons he made. "Glad to hear it. What's 'Baseball' and 'Football'? I never heard of those."

"Oh nothing, they're just some games we played back home." Peter worked his silver tongue and covered up his mistake.

"Cool, you should show it to me some time."

"Yeah, sure thing."

"You want to go see the team with me?" Asami asked.

"Are we allowed to do that?" Peter wanted to go down and congratulate the team personally, but knew it wasn't a practical decision. The last thing he needed right now was more time around Korra. His vague but dire confession begged for details he couldn't provide.

Asami laughed. "Dad's sponsoring the team, of course we can see them."

Peter didn't have much of a choice. Refusing the offer would look suspicious. "Alright then, let's do it."

"Slow down Asami," Hiroshi spoke up from his seat. "I need a moment alone with Takuya. You can go on and see your friends, he'll be right behind you."

Asami internally questioned the sudden call for privacy but brushed it aside and honored his wish. "Sure dad, just don't be too long." She requested on her way out.

Hiroshi smiled. "Of course sweetie."

"I'll be right behind you." Peter assured her. "And don't worry I know the way over."

Asami left to see the team and made a mental note of her father's odd request. She wondered what he was up to. What was so important that it couldn't wait? She didn't let the thought linger.

Mr. Sato waited a few moments before getting to business. He got up and sat at a courtesy table. "Grab a chair Takuya."

Peter eagerly followed the command and sat across from Mr. Sato. The spectacle of Pro-Bending was a pleasant surprise, but for him this was the real main event. He leaned in with excitement. Peter already knew what he wanted to discuss. "Alright Mr. Sato, now can you shed some light on this project of yours?"

"Ha, look at you. When I came to you the other day you seemed a little timid. What changed?"

"What can I say? That match really got the blood flowing. I could dive in the pool downstairs if you asked me to."

Hiroshi laughed at the prospect. Maybe he was worried over nothing. "Alright son settle down, don't lose your head."

"Right, right." Peter took his advice and tempered his pounding heart. "I hope you don't mind, but I have to mention the elephant in the room."

"Oh? I wasn't aware there was one."

"Well it's of the personal variety. Before we discuss anything else I have to ask. Why me? You're Hiroshi Sato for crying out loud. You probably got a fleet of people that could help you and they all got loads more experience than I do. Why pick me and not one of your engineers?" Peter voiced his doubts and let it hang in the air.

"Because the thought never crossed my mind Takuya." Hiroshi answered without a second thought. "I do have a lot of researchers on the pay roll and they're a talented bunch. I would give the order and they would burn the midnight oil and spend hundreds of man hours to get the job done. The thing is Takuya, I don't need another rank and file engineer, I don't need dozens of them. No, I need you." He locked eyes with Peter and spoke from the heart. He wouldn't dare lie about this. "I can say without a shadow of a doubt that you are more qualified than anyone else working for me."

His words left Peter stunned. He was in no way prepared for such an answer. Hiroshi Sato eliminated the last shred of doubt still lingering in his head. "Mr. Sato I…I'm honored to hear you say that." His gratitude was fumbled but genuine. This was it, his dream. He would use his god given talents towards shaping the world for the better. It wasn't his world, but that didn't matter right now. The only thing that would make this moment better was if his Aunt and Uncle could see this.

"Are we in the clear Takuya? I hope you don't have any more reservations on this."

"Not all sir!"

"Good."

"So what are what are we working on? A new engine, fuel? Are you doing the work in the factory or off si-"

"Relax Takuya, I was just getting to that. And keep your voice down. Remember what I told you." Hiroshi used a firm tone to get him back on track.

"Ahem, sorry about that. What can you tell me about the project?" He gave Hiroshi the floor.

He got close and lowered his voice. "Not much I'm afraid. I've been working on it for a while now, but it'll be in full swing after the Tournament over and done."

"You don't want the championships pulling focus away from the Project?"

Hiroshi chuckled at the question. If he only knew. "Not at all. Son, this project will make all this look like a game of bingo at the old folk's home. Let's just say that I didn't want to steal the Pro-Benders fire in a manner of speaking."

The business mogul's vague revelation only made Peter want to know more. The anticipation was killing him. It was like being a kid on Christmas Eve. "Don't worry Mr. Sato. I may not look it, but I can keep a secret."

"That's good to know, because I can't afford for any of this to reach the public. It could derail the project for years." Hiroshi told him. He wanted to be very clear how serious this was.

"Understood. So what can you tell me now?"

"Well for starters, the project consists of several inventions and I confidently say the world's never seen anything like them."

"Jeez Mr. Sato, you make it sound like a death ray or something." Peter grinned poking fun at Hiroshi's vow of secrecy.

"I assure you it's nothing like that." Hiroshi told him. He looked up and pondered what he was about to tell him. He sighed and silently made his decision. "Tell you what, I can share one thing with you. Think of it as a preview of what's to come."

Peter's eyes lit up. "Now you're talking. Lay it on me."

Hiroshi scanned the room to ease his nerves. "I'm working on a new vehicle that will revolutionize transportation as you know it. And that's just the tip of the iceberg."

"So it is a new Satomobile then."

"Sort of." He grinned and scanned the room one more time. "What if I told you that it's a radical new form of air vehicle that the world's never seen before?" He whispered.

"Well I'd say that old Hiroshi's finally fell off his rocker." Peter threw a playful jab at his boss. "So you're developing a new airship then?"

Hiroshi knowingly smiled and reclined in his seat. "An air ship is hardly revolutionary now ,is it Takuya?"

"Come on Mr. Sato, it's just us." Peter stated the obvious. "You're killing me here."

"It's not an airship, but an airplane." Hiroshi let the cat out of the bag. "It's a whole new aerial vehicle that can fly, not float, through the air."

The expression on Peter's face said it all. He sat there in wide eyed excitement at what Mr. Sato just said. He knew Hiroshi was a forward thinking business man, but powered sustained flight was something else entirely. To say that the man was on the cusp of a major breakthrough would be an understatement. He could only think of the effects it had on his world. Hiroshi created the automobile and now he was about to give the world airplanes. It was like François Isaac de Rivaz, the Wright brothers, and Harold Ford were sitting in front of him and offering him a piece of the glory. No wonder he was so hush-hush about all this.

"Did that satisfy your curiosity Takuya?" Hiroshi asked.

"Afraid not sir. Sustained powered flight…you're going to change the world." Peter was still reeling from that bombshell. "And you're telling me that's just one aspect of the project?"

"Yes. Now do you see why I can't say too much out in the open?"

"I do. So you'll let me see the whole picture when the tournaments over and done?"

"That's the idea Takuya."

Peter nodded and got to his feet. "Great. I'm going to go catch up with Asami now. You going to stick around for the next match?"

"Oh no, I'm turning in early. The 'project' is eating up a lot of my time and frankly I'm not as spry as I used to be."

Peter took a good look at Hiroshi. He did look weathered. "I know the feeling sir. I'll see you at the next round than."

"Absolutely Takuya." He waved at Peter as he left the box.

Sato sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He wasn't lying about being exhausted. Refining and fine tuning the shock gloves and mechs was painstakingly tedious. He really wished he could have some of his factory staff pick up the slack. He turned to the arena and his face went grim. The officials were inspecting and prepping the ring for the next round. He was happy to have Peter on board, but he knew he wasn't out of the woods yet. Years of cut throat businesses had taught him to never celebrate until the job was done. He had deals fall through at the eleventh hour more times than he could count. It did feel good getting Peter on his side even if it was a partial victory. Having his cooperation almost made this bending side show bearable, almost. The benders could have their fun for now. It wouldn't last.

---

XXXxxx Pro Bending Arena: Player's Room xxxXXX

A couple of diehard fans still were still cheering for the fire Fereets and Bolin egged them on as long as humanly possible. They eventually dispersed to simmer down and buy refreshments. He couldn't believe how fortunate he was. He had faith in his brother and Korra and it was well placed. They didn't just beat the Rabaroo's, but came out with a full sweep. They worked hard and showed everyone that that they were a championship caliber team. Bolin egged on his adoring fans as long as he could and enjoyed every minute of it. Tonight was a night of miracles and he intended to ride that lucky streak for all it was worth. He was going to ask Korra out on a date. She would say yes, and fall madly in love with him. At least that was the plan anyway. He went to the corner of the room to rehearse his lines to Pabu, who was always a good listener. But Bolin wasn't the only one trying his hands in romance and he was too absorbed in his own world to notice what Mako and Korra were talking about.

"Look, I really like you and I think we were made for each other!" Korra blurted out to her shocked team captain.

Mako didn't know what to say. Deep down he knew he felt something for Korra, he just didn't know how to express it effectively. It didn't help matters that he and Asami were an item. "Korra…that's nice and all, but I'm with Asami. You're nice and all, but I just don't feel the same way you do." He tried his best to let her down gently.

Korra wasn't angry and she wasn't sad. She just felt numb. The vigor from tonight's win drained away. Why was this happening? She followed Pema's advice to the letter didn't she? "Oh um…just forget I said anything." She walked away disheartened and a little ashamed. She went to the bench and started to gather her things. She would change and head back to the temple. As she sat down, the door flew open and she caught another gut punch.

Asami burst through the door and ran into Mako's arms.

"Great match champ!" She praised.

Korra turned away and focused on her things. It was better to power through the awkward moment than wait for it to pass.

Bolin didn't know what Korra said to his brother, but it didn't matter. Korra was alone and opportunity was knocking. Who was he to keep it waiting? He stepped up to Korra with a confident swagger. "So Korra I was thinking, if you and me, we could go get some dinner together. Sort of a…date situation."

She regarded Bolin for a moment before answering. She was in a 'stand-off' mood, but she didn't want to spoil their first win. "Oh that's really sweet, but I don't think so. I don't feel very date worthy."

Bolin was dashed, but not dissuaded. "Are you kidding!? You're the toughest, prettiest, smartest, girl I know." He pressed.

"You really think so?" Korra smiled at the pick-me-up she needed.

"I know so!" Bolin went in for the kill and flashed his trade mark smile.

Before Korra could answer, the door cracked open. "Please tell me this is the right one." A familiar voice mumbled.

Peter opened the door and let out a sigh of relief. "Whew, third times the charm."

"Took you long enough Takuya." Asami chided next to Mako.

"Hey Takuya! Asami was just telling me that you tagged along." Mako traded courtesies with Peter.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to come to one of these, but I never had the time. Congratulations on the win guys. You went through that team like a wet paper bag."

"Thanks. I couldn't do it without Bo' and Korra watching my back." Mako pointed at his aforementioned teammates. He hoped the praise would help smooth things over between him and Korra.

Korra's mind raced when she saw Peter walk into the room. Today's rally was a mixed bag. It was a hodgepodge of triumph, disappointment, and anticipation. The alleged web-head's appearance almost made up for her romantic failings. She just got her shot and she wasn't going to waste it. Her feet moved faster than her mind and she approached Peter. "Hey Poindexter! I didn't know you were here watching us kick butt." Korra couldn't believe what was coming out of her mouth, but it was too late to pull back. She just had to roll with it.

Peter regarded her for a second. She was acting strange again. Maybe it was just post match jitters. "Umm yeah, you were great out there. You guys made my first pro-bending match a doozy."

Bolin inched his way into the conversation. He didn't want to risk his potential date with Korra. "Hey Korra, remember what we were talking about? It was date related and I didn't get an answer soooo…"

Korra turned to Bolin. "Date? Oh right! Hey Takuya, you want to celebrate with me and Bolin?" Again she shot her mouth off the cuff. A perfect scenario fell on her lap. She would go out with Bolin and have him tag along. This way she would have a whole evening with Peter. If she played her cards right, he would reveal himself on his own and stop the charade.

"What!?" Bolin blurted out.

"Oh wow Korra. That's nice and all but I have tomorrow night." Peter attempted to steer clear of the situational iceberg coming his way. What was with this girl? They've known each other for a while, but she knew Spider-Man before 'Takuya', but she was never this social with him.

"Well Korra, you heard the man, he's busy." Bolin swooped in and desperately tried to save his date with the Avatar. "Besides I was thinking this whole thing would be, you know, personal alone time."

Korra knew Bolin's intent. She didn't mean to hurt his feelings but this was a golden opportunity she couldn't pass up. "Oh common Bolin, last time we hung out, Takuya was all banged up and couldn't enjoy himself. I just figured we could do it right this time, you know?"

Bolin didn't like her timing, but he did agree with her. He wanted to have a special night with her, but he did consider Peter a friend and knew what had happened to him. "Fine…" He huffed.

"Hmm. You know Korra, I don't remember agreeing to go out with you two. I think you might've strapped your helmet on too tight." Peter reminded.

"Come on Takuya, shake a tail feather, cut loose and live a little." Korra showed no hint of suspicion towards Peter. She masked her motive well. "It's not like you have anything better to do at night, right?" She locked eyes with Peter, paying close attention to him. She playfully nudged his shoulder with hers. Her methods were much more refined than her last attempt to reveal his true nature. She couldn't resist flashing a knowing smile though. He was right where she wanted him.

Peter felt the tension pulling on his nerves. He had a hard time figuring out what was the cause of this knew outgoing Korra. He smiled back to dash any reservations. "Alright, might be fun. But fair warning, I'm not much of a party animal. I tend to turn in real early."

Korra slung a towel over her shoulder. "Or course it'll be fun Poindexter. It's going to be a regular riot." She patted him on the shoulder and stepped out. Her face went cold when she passed Mako and Asami. "You two enjoy yourselves." She still had some hard feeling towards the two.

"Thanks…" Mako said and waited for Korra to step out of the room. "What just happened?" He whispered to Asami.

"I'm not sure. Do you think she was trying to flirt with him?" She whispered back. Her interaction with Peter was odd but there was definitely something between them.

"That didn't sound like flirting to me." Mako added.

"Yeah its…going to be…real…" Bolin waited for Korra to leave before yanking Peter to the corner of the room. Asami was surprised but it was business as usual for Mako. "What are you doing Tak'!?" He barely whispered.

Peter didn't take the gesture personally. Bolin was an eccentric guy and he didn't mean anything by it. "Well, I've got an earthbender uncomfortably close to my face at the moment. What's up with you?" He joked.

"This isn't funny dude! You're messing with my love life here!" Bolin pleaded his case.

"You're love li- Oh, you were asking her out." Peter was so wrapped up in his own world to realize what was going on between the two.

"Yeah, and you ruined it." Bolin was on the verge of tears. The guy really did wear his feelings on his sleeve. "She's my soul mate dude!"

Mako scuffed at the claim. He said the same thing about all of his girlfriends.

"Hey, I just came in to congratulate you guys. Korra's the one who roped me into whatever you were planning." Peter defended himself.

"Why you!? What do you got that I don't" Bolin shifts the blame to the cosmos. "You got magic love powers or something?"

"I wish. I've never had much luck with women."

Bolin went into a fit of groaning.

"Tell you what Bolin, I'm not going to be around for the whole night. I'll just duck out real early and you'll have plenty of time to work your magic on your 'soul mate'. Sound good?" Parker offered him a sliver of hope.

Bolin settled down. His worries were put to bed. Peter went from competitor to collaborator in nothing flat. The ever aberrant Bolin went in and hugged Peter. "Thanks dude! You're a life saver!"

"Ah yeah, what are friends for?" He was glad that no one else was in the room. Asami and Mako could be heard snickering behind him. 'God, I'll never hear the end of this.'

One thing still nagged at him more than the unwelcomed embrace. What was Korra trying to pull? She was acting strange lately. Did it have something to do with the confession at the island? Maybe she just felt sorry for him and all of this was just some ham fisted charity case. He would ponder this further later. There were more pressing matters to attend to.

"Bolin…"

"Yeah buddy."

"Please let go of me."

---

A/N: Hey yawl guess what, I'm not dead. I know it's strange but here's an update that took me a year and some change to make. The worst part is that I'm still not technically done with it. I had meant for this to be one big update but I was lagging hard. This update took up a hundred plus pages of my notebook to write. Long story short I ended up making an executive decision and cut the update in half. I figured that I kept all of you waiting long enough and at the pace I was going I'd probably update at the tail end of October. Especially with me playing Spider-Man ps4 (That game is perfection by the way, save for the MJ and Miles parts)

On to the story. The big reveal with the twins was something I've been planning for a while. It's kind of my take on the reason 'game' Noir is different from 'comic' Noir. It's a way to bridge the gap between the two. I'll elaborate on that later and it's a dozy. Just so you all know, this is a half update. So the next chapter won't take that long to type out since it's already written down so stay tuned.

PS: Shout out to the editor for this chapter Dimensional Wanderer. He's been a real help getting this 'half' update out.

CRUDEN: Holding back is definitely an issue for Peter. I can't help but think of that one time Spider-ock punched scorpion's jaw off

616mcu: I think I brushed up on that here. Let's just say that he isn't changing but understanding. *Wink*

coldblue: Mysterio- He has a reserved seat in the LOK/AVATAR world for sure. And I've got big things planned for him.

616 Peter: I did have a little inner debate with his profession. I flipped between 'researcher' Peter working at Horizon and 'reporter' Peter working at the Bugle. I opted for the more traditional route with the reporter gig. I think I just went with it because I read more of the older stories than the Slott era stuff.

Here I guess

That's TBD and I can't tell you anything without spoiling stuff.

I didn't mention whiplash in the story.

Since it's been over a year and the live action Avatar on Netflix is about to happen I think that question answered itself. I'm not interested.

I haven't read that and I'm not a fan of Naruto/Spiderman crossovers. I just don't think they are ever handled right, not that I'm blaming the writers it's a hard story to write.

Dante C. Emerys: -Noir won't be the amazing spider-man of this world. He's kind of my take on the character so I can deviate what I want to do with the character.

-His spider-sense tripped because Yue intended to rough house with Peter and he was still in danger. The spider-sense, especially in Noir's case, isn't a definite science.

-Let's just say that there is a connection but it's not like how you described it. I got some villains on my short list that should be fun to read.

-I had a similar thought but ultimately chose not to go that route. Adding powers on Spider-Man is a slippery slope and I don't want things to get to messy. Peter will have his usual spider-powers for the most part.

Keep commenting bud.

The Lst Mamm0th: No. I adore Raimi's Spider-Man movies, even the third, but the whole 'I'm having a bad day so no spider powers' thing was a miss step on his part.

Partyman 108: Heh heh yeah…god I'm so late…

White Lantern Oath 009: I'm not feeling that whole blood bending brother's idea at all. I have a few ideas with them rattling in my head but nothing how you suggested. They sound a little feeble the way you put it.

Beastfallen- I…ah…can't say anything else about that.

Routs- I got one more poll I might put up but that'll be around the end of this part.

Super Prison- I haven't thought far ahead but good thinking.

Corrupted God- I am playing with a Spider-Man V. Avatar scenario in my head. Nothing's set in stone but I'm thinking about it.

Master of Iron- Uh…I'm not saying Bonebending is a bad idea I'm just saying that it's beyond me. I think it takes the bending arts a little too far. It's not a bad concept but I don't think I could write that in the story.

AncientSpiderman Spirit- I have something like that in the works but it's not that. Yeah make that make sense. You'll just have to wait and see for that one.

Greedy Mercenary- Fun fact about me, I freaking love Taskmaster. But I don't really see a place for him in the story.

Mentalist777: I never read the 1602 books but I do know of them. That is sort of happening in a sense but it's less to do with Peter's presence in the world and more to do with me playing with the story. That kind of happened with Tinkerer and Prowler. 616 Peter going to do a double take when Noir mention those two names.

tigerdancer21: Venom doesn't have a part in the story. Peter will have a hand in Future Industries future with some interesting bits with Varrick. I usually brainstorm conversation between him and Peter and I can't wait to get to part 2 of the story.

tigeradventurer89: I'll be honest, I don't know much about Kung Fu panda and I really can't add a whole lot without it being a chore on my part.

nickjudy72: You guys really want doc ock in the story XD

wargreymonxtreme11: I like where your heads at with the wall clinging. Maybe Peter doesn't utilize this power because he still fights like a 'regular' guy. He should employ his powers in different ways. Lol now you got me thinking of Hero academia. And I tried to play Bayonetta and it just never clicked with me.

Cylon One: Thanks.

Breathless69: That's a good idea and all but it veers too far from my story plan. It's does sound like a good side boss type of villain though.

Guest: I read all of the reviews and thank you for your readership. I know I'm slow as hell but believe me I'm trying.

Phanfan925: Wow thank you. I know I'm not be best when it comes to execution, I'm better idea guy than a writer to be honest, but I try to get better as I go along and it's nice to hear that I'm getting better. Street War was one of my favorite parts of the story. It was my idea and it had nothing to do with the main story so I was a little apprehensive with that one. I always had it in my head that Peter would go through the ringer at one point in the story. Originally it was just going to be Beifong and the police doing the deed but then I thought it wasn't enough. Peter is simply beyond average metalbenders and it just wouldn't be believable for them to be the ones put him through his paces. So I thought they should be get better equipment so the Spider-Slayer armor was born. So I was happy with that but I decided to up the ante further with the United forces team. Beifong is through and has been studying Spider-man for a while now. She knows what he's capable of so she would pull all of the stops and call in some favors to take him down. I had a lot of fun writing my OC's and I'm glad they were so well received. They're an interesting bunch and they don't take the spot light form Peter and the rest of the main cast. And the ending was my favorite part of it all. Both parties sacrifice their principals, Peter losing control and Beifong overstepping her law enforcement powers. And the best part was that no one left happy. Peter had a new threat to deal with even though he escaped and Beifong failed to capture Spider-man but made a stronger team to deal with Amon.