Two weeks passed in a flash, and suddenly Peter was three days away from becoming an adult. He had initially insisted on having a small party, mainly including the present Avengers, May, Happy, and his friends from school. Tony and May were both hesitant on the subject of his classmates, but with some convincing, they both relented.

Peter hummed contently as he tinkered with his web shooters, adjusting the calibration yet again after his last spar with Scott. Tony was also working nearby, throwing screens left and right as he analyzed the data Ross and Fury had sent over to the Compound.

In the weeks that had passed since Beck's stunt, the world had kept turning and more potential threats were appearing throughout the world. A H.Y.D.R.A. cell in Russia attacked an armory, and stole a prototype rifle that fired a compact version of Tony's repulsor tech. There had been an incident at the Raft, and two prisoners had escaped. And finally...there was A.I.M.

The reports of A.I.M. 's renewed activity had started just after the Blip, and since then both sightings of their agents and their tech had slowly increased. They were growing bolder over time, and with more and more of their operations succeeding, it was starting to get worrying.

"As much as I hate to admit it, it was stupid of me to expect A.I.M. would just disappear without Killion's leadership." Tony admitted, his brow furrowed and a frown on his face. "Some people just don't know when to call it quits, apparently."

"Hey, you've dealt with worse, right?" Peter quipped, earning him a grin from the genius across the room. Before the banter continued, a new screen appeared before the armored Avenger, surprising him. As he read the contents on the screen, however, his eyes lit up and a smile rose on his face.

"Huh. Seems like you're gonna have a few more guests for your party, Pete." He mused with a grin, before continuing off the teen's confused expression. "Seems ol' Firefist invited Thor and the Guardians to your party."

Peter's eyes widened, and he motioned for Tony to show him the screen. With a flick of his wrist, the genius moved the screen to the webhead's workspace, allowing him to read it. Sure enough, the message confirmed that both the God of Thunder and the Guardian's were returning to Earth for a few weeks of well deserved rest. Since Carol had mentioned Peter's party, Thor insisted on "Finally meeting the Man of Spiders properly!".

It was an unfortunate fact that he and Thor never really got to meet each other. After the fight in Germany, Tony told Peter about how Thor was off hunting magical stones and wouldn't be back for a while. And after everything that had happened post-snap? Peter didn't really know how to approach him at the funeral, and after that, he left with the Guardians as they returned to space.

"Wow...so I'll actually get to meet Thor properly this time?" He asked excitedly, promoting a chuckle from Tony, pleased to see the kid in high spirits.

"Seems like it. Plus, you and I will get to have a little reunion with the Guardians." He suggested, earning another grin from the younger man. "You think they're still...well, them?"

"Unfortunately, yeah." The webslinger joked, before the buzzing of his phone caught his attention. He picked it up, and read the new message with a smile. "I gotta go. May and Happy are in the lobby, we're helping May move back in."

"Alright. Stay safe out there, Peter." Tony requested, his grin thinning slightly. "I know that with Beck in prison, everyone knows the truth, but...you and I both know some people tend to hold onto things they really shouldn't."

"I know, Tony. I'll stay safe." Peter replied, earning another chuckle from his mentor as he exited the lab. "See you in a few hours!"

"See you then, kiddo." Tony said, before yet another screen popped up next to him, a transmission request from Fury. Without a second thought, he answered the call and greeted the former spy. "Morning, eyepatch. Got any good news for a change?"

"I'm afraid not." Fury answered his expresion dark and serious...though that wasn't really unusual. "There's been a development at the Raft. Beck's gone."

Line Break

"So...you're moving back into the apartment?"

Peter found himself conflicted as he helped his aunt carry her luggage back into what had been their home about a month before. She had actually broken the news a few days beforehand, that after a long conversation with their landlord, he agreed to have her move back in.

"Yep. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but...I didn't know how'd you react." She defended, smiling sadly. "Happy and the others tried their best, but it just didn't feel right living at the Compound."

"Yeah, I know. Just...I'm gonna miss you." Peter replied, shifting awkwardly as the elevator came to a stop, releasing them onto their floor. "I'll come visit every weekend. I promise."

"That sounds nice, but don't stress yourself out!" The elder Parker ordered playfully, still grinning. "I know that you've gotten really close with the Avengers. I think it's only fair that you spend more time with them. They're your family too."

"Yeah...yeah, they are." The webslinger agreed, before coming to stop outside the apartment. A few seconds later, May unlocked the door and the two stepped inside.

"Seems like the place is still in good shape." She mused, before putting down her luggage and turning back to her nephew with a hopeful smile. "Do you mind checking on Happy? There were still a few bags left, and I'm not sure he can get them all."

"Yeah, sure May!" Peter chirped, dropping his own bag before leaving his apartment and starting for the elevator. He only made it a few feet, however, before another apartment's door opened up and smacked him in the face, sending him to the ground.

"Oh, shit! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there!" A new voice cried, before a hand appeared in front of the teen. He grabbed it, and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet, revealing a girl around his age with light brown skin and chocolate brown hair.

"It's fine, I should've been more careful." He insisted, before noticing that the girl's expression had become one of surprise. "Um...something wrong?"

"It's...you...holy crap." She sputtered, before raising her hands up into the air in an excited motion. "You're Spider-Man!"

In that moment, Peter completely blanked. He knew that with his identity to the world, he would be recognized in public. It was only a matter of time. Still, he wasn't sure what to do now. Confirm it? Walk away?

"Um...yeah. I am." He confirmed awkwardly, before mentaly chiding himself. To his surprise, the girl squealed with excitement, practically bouncing on her feet with a giddy grin on her face.

"OMG, I can't believe it's really you!" She exclaimed, eyes wide and full of excitement. "I'm a huge fan of your work! You're my favorite superhero!"

"Whoa...r-really?" Peter queried, his own smile rising. "I mean, thanks! I never really thought I had any fans, honestly."

"Are you kidding?! You fight crime and defeat villains, you help everyday people who need it!" The girl listed, before snapping her fingers as though she remembered something. "Oh, shoot! I completely forgot my manners. Sorry, um...I'm Kamala."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Peter." He greeted, extending his hand to her. Kamala took it after a second's hesitation, shaking it vigorously. "And I'm honored to be your favorite superhero!"

Before the conversation could progress further, the elevator at the end of the hall opened, revealing a winded Happy, who was juggling several bags of luggage. Both teens immediately moved to assist the man, who offered them a thankful smile.

"God, I'm glad I didn't have to take the stairs." He joked, adjusting his grip on the remaining bags, and shooting Peter a curious look. "Who's the girl?"

"Oh, uh...Happy, this is Kamala, May's neighbor." Peter introduced, followed by a wave from the girl in question. "Kamala, this is Happy. He works as the head of security at the Avengers Compound. He's also kinda sorta my aunt's boyfriend."

"Wow, cool! I-I mean, the security part, not the aunt part." Kamala babbled, making the webhead chuckle. She seemed a bit awkward, but in a humorous way. Adorkable was really the first word to come to mind. "So, you need any help with more bags?"

"No, this is the last load." Happy replied, hefting up the bags once more and approaching the Parker apartment. "I'll be back for those last two in sec. Just gotta drop these off."

"Alright, Happy. I'll be right there." Peter called, before turning back to Kamala and flashing her a polite smile. "I should probably go help him. It was nice to meet you, Kamala."

"Oh, uh...yeah. It was nice meeting you too." She replied hesitantly, a conflicted expression on her face. Suddenly, she started speaking again. "Hey, I-I know this is a bit sudden, but...could I get your phone number?"

Peter blinked, the sudden question catching him off-guard. Before he even had a chance to answer, the other teenager steamrolled on, shooting off words a mile per minute.

"And not like in a weird way or anything, I mean we just met and that'd be weird, like super weird and you're just really cool and an actual superhero and I'd really like to get to know you but if that's too much I totally get it and if I'm over stepping I'm so so sorry-"

"Yes, it's alright!" Peter interrupted, stopping the girl's rambles in their tracks. "I mean, yeah. I don't see any reason why we shouldn't. Could you tell me your number?"

"Y-yeah, sure!" Kamala chirped, hastily taking out her phone and listing her number. Peter typed down the numbers diligently, before posting his phone and smiling once more at his new friend.

"Alright, now we can talk whenever." Peter stated, before picking up his bag yet again. "Again, it was nice to meet you."

"It was nice meeting you too!" Kamala chirped, before someone called her name from within her apartment. "Ah, that's my mom. Better go help her with lunch. See you later!"

"Bye!" Peter replied as Kamala practically skipped back to her apartment, closing the door behind her. The webhead then hefted the two duffle bags up, placing both on his shoulders as he entered the Parker residence, earning him a playful scowl from Happy.

"Show off." The older man grumbled, sparking a soft laugh from May, who kissed him on the cheek. "Well, that's all the bags. You need any help unpacking, May?"

"No, no. I'll be fine." The aunt insisted, looking around the room with a nostalgic smile on her face. "I'm gonna take my time with it, maybe even order some take out. You two should start heading back to the Compound, it's already noon."

"Are you sure you don't want us to stay and help?" Happy asked again, only receiving a pointed look in response. "Ok, ok. I'll be downstairs, kid. See you in a few."

"Ok, I'll be right there, Happy." Peter acknowledged, before approaching his aunt and wrapping her in a hug. "Bye, May. I'll see you in two days."

"See you then, Peter. I lurb you!" May joked, earning a chuckle from her nephew as he exited the hug, smiling warmly.

"Lurb you too, May."

Line Break

Carol exited her room, running a hand through her hair experimentally. It was starting to grow out, though it still had a ways to go before it was back to its original length.

She made her way through the halls of the Compound, politely nodding to agents and technicians along the way. Since Quinton Beck's capture, Fury had been bringing in more and more of his assets, be them former S.H.I.E.L.D. agents or new allies that he had gained with assistance from Talos and the Guardians. The Compound, for the first time in a long time, was buzzing with activity.

"Hey, Danvers!" Sam called out as Carol made her way through the hanger, pausing as the new Avengers leader approached her. "Tony and Fury are calling us to the command center. Said they've got something important to tell us."

"Yeah, Nick called me in too." Carol replied, resuming her walk alongside the Falcon. "Any idea what this is about?"

"Not yet. Fury looked pretty pissed, but there's never really a moment when he doesn't." Sam quipped as the pair finally arrived at their destination. They both entered as the door slid open, revealing Tony, Fury, Bruce Banner and T'challa inside. "Are we all here?"

"Not yet, we're still waiting on Wade." Tony answered, just as the doors opened and the red-clothed merc stepped inside. "Ah, right on time then. Take it away."

"We've gathered you all here for a specific reason, because you are judged to be completely trustworthy with the information you are about to hear. Any objections?" The former spy asked, receiving no audible response. "Alright. Quintin Beck has escaped the Raft."

"What?!" Carol exclaimed, her gaze flicking around the room and finding that the rest of her companions wore similar expressions. Even more surprising, Wade was the first to step forward, not offering any witty banter or his usual babbles of meaningless words. Instead, he only said one, sharp as a razer and just as deadly.

"How?"

"We don't have any positive identification yet, but our best guess is that A.I.M. had something to do with it." Tony explained, bringing up a grainy security camera shot of what looked like three armored individuals escorting a prisoner down a hallway. "The attack on the Raft coordinated with another on a DoDC facility in Jersey that was holding a lot of recovered tech from the last few years. Chirati, Kree, Skrull, Inhuman, you name it. All of it was held there."

"So what happens now, then?" Sam asked, watching the image intently.

"We go on high alert, discreetly." Fury replied, waving the image away and ignoring the pointed look he got from Tony in the process. "We stay battle ready at all times, and keep an eye on Parker. We all know Beck still has an ax to grind with him."

"Alright then. Watch the webhead like a hawk and keep the safeties off. Got it." Wade quipped, earning an eye roll from just about everyone present. "So, we done here?"

"Not quite, Wilson. We actually received a message recently from someone at Westchester County, New York." Tony interjected, an almost sly grin rising on his face. "You wouldn't happen to know a Colossus, would you?"

Immediately, Wade paled and his eyes went wide, and without another word, he left the room. The remaining Avengers glanced at each other in surprise, while Tony just smirked at Fury and shook his head.

"God, if only they would have contacted us sooner. If I had known it would have been that easy to shut him up, I would have said that weeks ago."