"How did it go, Sir?"

"He's stubborn, a tad obnoxious, and very paranoid." a pause. "But he would still be a good asset, and a valuable member for the team."

"Yes, of course, his skill set is admittedly impressive."

A sigh, "But?"

"But we know nothing about Spider-Man. Is it really a good idea to enlist him? All that we know about him is that he's an orphaned kid with the abilities of a spider and that he's working with an unknown informant. We don't even know where his hideout is."

"I know. A bit frustrating isn't it."

"It's not our way Sir. We're not used to operating in the dark. In my opinion, if I may offer it, is that we should wait until we got a bit more information on this kid."

"I'm aware that this is out of character, Agent Coulson, and frankly I'm not comfortable flying blind either, but…"

"But what?"

"I'm worried about him."

"Worried, Sir?"

"Well, not so much for him than about him. I figure you went over our video files on him."

"Of course."

"Then you know how skilled he really is. Especially for a 16-year-old kid, one who's only hit the street a year ago. From what I can tell, he takes his superheroing "job" quite seriously, albeit a bit foolishly. That's a lot of stress to handle, don't you think? Not even Tony Stark was this tenacious. A teenager is not meant to handle this much stress on their own. There are repercussions."

"So, you're worried about him...breaking?"

"Exactly. I'd rather have any future danger where I can watch it, rather than wait for it to happen. Or better yet, have them as an ally."

"I see. What are your orders?"

There was another pause. "Send out the team as soon as he pops up on our radar. I want to see how they'd get along."

"Yes Sir, Director Fury."

"Mr. Osborn, your son just arrived."

"Yes, yes - of course, he did. He lives here after all. Just send him to his room and tell him I'm working and mustn't be disturbed."

"Very good, Sir."

The butler closed the door. Norman sighed behind his desk and pulled back up the tabs he was just looking at. He read through the Spider-Man report Octavius just sent him on the holographic screen, all about the hero's precognitive ability to sense danger. It was a fascinating concept that left him grasping for more sense on it, but, as for this information, he's read it all before in earlier reports. The only difference was it was a bit more in-depth with theory and hypothesis - nothing concrete and confirming. Seems like Octavius was grasping at straws.

Growling in agitation, Norman swiped the screen and the report slipped off and away, buried somewhere beneath the systems matrix. Under that tab was several different videos and photos of the wall-crawler, all from different angles and distance, showing his variation of skills and traits.

Norman swiped through each one, evaluating every angle, observing every video, and searching for every power and weakness that this masked vigilante had to show, till that stack diminished too. He's been trailing this web-swinger for months now, pouring everything he could into this project while still staying discreet about it. This Spider-Man was a brilliant creation, a perfect display of natural speed, agility, flexibility, and strength - not to mention that 6th sense warning him of danger. Yes, Spider-Man was the kind of creation every biochemist, scientist, genetics specialist, or black-market salesman could ever want. If Norman could figure out how to replicate these powers, he could make another fortune just selling them to buyers across the globe. Not only that, but he could keep some to himself, the best in show of course, for his own purposes. Imagine, any army of Spider-Men all under his control. The sheer power of it would leave him with no opponent or competitor daring enough to go up against him.

But first, he needed to crack the bug.

His top genetics-scientist, Otto Octavius, was the only one in on this project. Norman didn't want this news to spill on the streets in any way. But, as brilliant as Ock could be, this case left him running in circles too - Norman has had about enough of that useless, bumbling scientist claiming to be far in the research, while really it seemed they still lingered on square one.

Norman laced his fingers together and supported his head on them as he thought. If progress continued like this, he'd be forced to shut down the project. Well, perhaps not the project, but more the scientist behind it. Which would be a shame really. While Octavius was annoying and petty, he is still a genius in nearly all areas of science - especially genetics. It'd be a waste to kill off such a useful brain.

Before a real decision could be made though, a pleasant ringing sound rose up from inside his desk. Norman opened the first drawer and took out the sleek, black and silver phone there. He didn't need to see the number to know who it was. He put the phone to his ear where it was designed to automatically answer.

"How did it go?" he asked.

The answering voice was male with a somewhat snobby accent. "Trapster was stopped and put into S.H.I.E.L.D custody, but he did manage to plant the tracker."

"Good." Norman approved. "But that doesn't explain why you're talking to me about it when you should be tracking him."

"Well, that's the problem Mr. Osborn." the voice sniffed. "I didn't think you'd want me and the others trashing your facilities."

"What are you talking about-" the door to the room opened, causing Norman to whirl around to glare at the interrupter. A redhead teen poked his head inside. "Hey, dad."

Norman had to bite his tongue to keep from yelling. "Harry, I'm very busy right now," he said, calmly, pulling the phone slightly from his ear. "I can't talk. If you need something the butler can help you." of all the times his son had to disturb him, it was now. Why was it that boy found the worst times to interrupt him?

"Oh, I just -" Harry rubbed his neck sheepishly, nervously kicking the fancy Persian rug as he regarded his father with a small, yet pleased, smile. "I just wanted to tell you that I got a B on my English test today. I'm also getting a tutor to help me with Science, and- "

Norman interrupted icily, "Harry. I am busy. Leave."

Harry shrunk back, smile faltering. "Oh...oh, okay. Sorry. I just...sorry." head down, he silently closed the door. Norman sighed exasperatingly as soon as the knob clicked shut. He really needed to do something about his son. Get the boy on something to get him on the right track to inheriting Oscorp, he was just becoming more of a nuisance day after day. But that is a dilemma for another time.

Right now, he had more important things to think about. "What do you mean? What do my facilities have to do with anything?" he demanded.

"Family troubles?" the voice mused instead.

Norman growled through grit teeth, "Wizard! I asked a question."

The voice, Wizard, sighed "According to the tracer, Spider-Man is under one of the sublevels of Oscorp. Right under your nose, it seems. I figured you might not want us to ruin it, so I called in. Forgive my precautionary instinct." the last line was delivered with huffy sarcasm.

Norman decided to ignore it. "Send me the tracer link and stand-by," he ordered.

"You're the boss." The line clicked and went dead.

The phone was tossed back on the desk as Norman rebooted his system. Not a minute passed before the sent link showed up on his screen. He enlarged it, letting his eyes roam over the blue screen. The little red dot indicating the tracer pulse lightly to show that it was still working. What Wizard said was true. The smudge of red looked to be pacing under Oscorp, in one of the secluded sublevels of the building.

But that wasn't the most surprising part. Oh no. The most surprisingly part was the fact that the glowing dot was positioned right inside of Octavius's lab.

Did Octavius manage to actually capture Spider-Man? If so, Norman would be expecting the call any minute now. But that didn't seem to be the case. Looking at the dot, he suspected that there was something more going on.

Humming in thought, Norman reclasped his hands and leaned back in his seat. Perhaps he could see where this fortunate turn of events would lead. He never knew when an opportunity like this would strike again.

Octavius watched as Peter did series of fluid flips and spins in the little space provided in the small lab. They had to move a few worktables and cabinets to make the room a bit roomier, all of the described was shoved unceremoniously to the side where Peter could easily rearrange the heavy objects if he needed to.

The boy finished with a smooth backflip and landed in his signature crouch. He spread his arms wide with a big smile and sang, "Ta-da!" with a half-bow.

Octavius rolled his eyes, albeit affectionately, and scribbled a few things down on the clipboard pinched between the "fingers" of one of his tentacles.

"Good job," he approved. "You're really beginning to get a handle on your flexibility and agility."

Peter beamed back from the praise. "Aww, it's nothing," he responded cheekily. Then did a perfect back-spring as if to contradict his statement.

Ock sighed. He scribbled a few more things down. "Have you ever watched Olympic acrobats, Peter?"

"Uh...no."

"Well, I think you should. Maybe you can pick up a few pointers or techniques."

Peter stopped, mid-cartwheel, his legs held straight leaning a few inches to the side, with no strain, as he regarded his godfather with a bemused look. "Do you really think that'd work."

"It's not unheard of. Ever heard of a blind man learning to play the piano just by hearing it? Or a dancer copying a move just by watching it a few times? With your natural ability, it shouldn't be too hard."

Peter shrugged. "Alright. It's worth a shot." he finished his cartwheel, as if he never stopped, and stretched long and hard when he stood up. "I've got patrol, Ock." he reminded the older man, glancing idly at the time on one of the screens.

"Are you sure you want to go out tonight?" Ock asked. "Fury might still be on the look for you." Octavius noticed as Peter stiffened - he definitely didn't forget.

"I'll be fine. I mean, he wouldn't try to get me while I was helping people, right?" Peter muttered. "He didn't stop me from leaving last time." he sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than Ock.

Octavius too felt a worm of anxiety at the thought of Peter going out alone again. But what could he do? It wasn't like he was going to shut Peter in a cage to force him to stay in the lab, rather than go on his regular crime-stopping schedule. That would be bad parenting. It wasn't like he's done it before...okay, so maybe Ock has done it before, once, but he did promise Peter he wouldn't do it again on account that Peter never tries to hide the severity of his wounds again.

The tables and cabinets were effortlessly lifted in the air by Peter as he rearranged the lab to its natural state. "I promise I won't be out as long," he swore as he reached for the red mask hanging precariously off a chair.

"Alright. Fine. But make sure your web-shooters are filled before you go."

"Gotcha."

"And bring a few spare cartridges, just in case."

"Kay."

"And if you see any S.H.I.E.L.D agents immediately head back to the Basement."

"Octavius."

"I know. I know." Octavius smiled. "Now hurry on out of here before I change my mind."

Peter shot him a quick two-finger salute and disappeared down the hall, back to his room where he could use the Tunnel to get to the surface.

Once he was gone, a serious weight fell on Ock's shoulders. The talk Peter had with Nick Fury still echoed in his mind. The super-spy made sense in what he was talking about. 'You'd have allies and resources at your disposal' Ock remembered Nick Fury saying to Peter. Fury was right. There was only so much Octavius could do for his godson down here in a dingy lab. S.H.I.E.L.D had everything Peter, as a young hero, would ever need or hope for. Gadgets, technology, training, the support and drive he required to really open up his potential. Whereas Ock couldn't even get more food to keep up with the teen's metabolism without raising suspicion from Norman.

Sure he tried his best. But perhaps his best wasn't good enough anymore. Perhaps it was time Peter found a better home.

But, then again, just the thought of Peter no longer staying with him left a surprisingly deep ache in his heart. Peter was only 5 years old when Ock found him. Just a little boy with no family and no friends, alone with nothing but a scrappy backpack and a pair of taped-up glasses. It's been 11 years since then. 11 years of comforting him, teaching him, helping him; explaining the fundamental principles of science to a wide-eyed 8-year-old boy, reading him science papers and theories before bed instead of regular kid books.

Octavius chuckled lightly to himself, remembering how excited Peter got when he got to choose between a paper on nuclear fusion or a report on genetic mutation. I can't believe he actually liked listening to that kind of stuff, he thought to himself affectionately, any other kid would've turned it away on the spot.

Which made Ock realize he couldn't fathom the idea of losing Peter. They were a family. It was a small, secret family. But a family no less. It may seem selfish, but Octavius didn't think he could give that up yet. Richard, his science partner, entrusted him with the responsibility of taking caring of their son - he would not pass the responsibility off to someone else.

Besides, it's been awhile since he's felt truly important to someone. A very long while.

DONE! Okay guys, before I go, I wanted to say two things.

Tahitiseabreeze adopted one of my one-shots from "Being There For You" called "Long Live the Queen", it's set in Season 4 when MJ became the Carnage Queen. In this, Carnage Queen brought out the carnage inside Peter and enlisting him to her "family". Anyway, he/she is doing a great job with it and you guys should go check it out.

And,

2) Speaking of "Being There for You" I updated it but the site failed at notifying the people subscribed, so if you want you guys can check it out. It's called "Old Footage"

Anyway, that's all. Hope you enjoyed!