Title: Hot and Cool

Author: Stormy1x2

Word Count: 482

Notes: Another one from Danny;s POV. I promise, the next one will be from Peter's POV. Or someone's. I will mix it up.

Time Frame: Takes place during Season 1, Episode 4 – after the 4 of them dragged Peter away from Harry in the hallway and just following Sam's 'moneybags' comment.

Hot and Cool

"There are many parts between the mind and the mouth," Danny told Sam, his voice calm and cool despite the anger he felt inside him, born when Peter had roughly brushed past him to chase after his best friend after Sam had made such a hurtful and thoughtless remark. He could still feel the warmth of Peter's shoulder grazing his chest as he went. "You should try using them sometime."

It was supposed to have been a friendly intervention. A reminder to the Spider that he wasn't alone anymore – that he had a team that would back him up when he was attacked, as he so often was. But it had turned sour in a hurry and frankly, Danny didn't blame Peter for rushing out on them - one of the Spider's many positive qualities was his loyalty to his friends, and Sam's comment about 'kissing up to moneybags for cash' was a very nasty one. Even for Sam.

"...sorry," Sam muttered a minute later. Far too late for Peter to have heard it.

"We are not the ones you should be saying that to," Danny stated firmly.

Sam looked like he wanted to argue, but then his face fell. "Yeah," he sighed, closing his eyes. "I know."

"Peter is not like us," Danny continued, now looking at all of them, one by one. He held Ava's gaze for a moment. "He is still not used to working with a team. He's been alone for a long time. He needs understanding, and reassurance that we will be there for him when he needs us." He willed them to bend a little, to understand and give their leader some time to change the mindset he was obviously stuck in. In time Peter would, Danny knew. He was certain of it.

Now he just needed to convince the others.

"Well, it's kinda hard to do that when he doesn't even try to contact us," Ava grumbled. "I mean, we never would have known about this morning if Fury hadn't clued us in."

"This is true," Danny said, nodding agreeably. "Still, perhaps next time we can try a more gentle approach?"

Luke shrugged. "We can try man, but he should also be attempting to meet us halfway."

Danny nodded again. "Let me talk to him," he said. "Perhaps cooler heads will prevail where hot ones have not."

"Did you just call me a hothead?" Sam grumped, folding his arms and glaring at him.

Danny smiled, and reached out to ruffle Sam's hair as he passed. "If the shoe – ah, helmetfits," was all he said in reply, and went to deposit his tray on the rack.

He would honour his vow and talk to the Spider the next time he had the chance. After all, talking to Peter certainly wasn't a hardship.

End

Anyone else surprised by the sheer nastiness of Sam's comment? That really

burned me. I don't blame Peter for getting angry. Poor Harry.

Red, blue, purple, green

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