Title: A Will Of Iron
Author: Stormy1x2
Word Count: 590
Time Frame: Season 1, Episode 5 – when Iron Man is leading the Living Laser in a game of tag to the 'thing' that does the 'thing'.
A Will of Iron
"You'll have to do it manually," Tony said firmly through his comm link.
Danny watched as Peter froze, and then began shifting inside the Iron Spider suit. His arms flailed a little, hands coming up to his mouth and then down again, like he didn't know what to do with them. When the Spider spoke, his voice was on the verge of panic – something Danny hadn't truly heard from Peter before during a battle. "That was not part of the plan, man!"
Iron Fist decided to step in. Arms folded, he stared straight at Peter and made his tone as confident and convincing as possible. "You can do it," he said, willing Peter to hear his conviction. To Danny, there was no doubt about it.
Luke sidled up alongside him, putting one hand up as a token effort at obtaining some sort of privacy there in Mr Stark's lab. "You really think so?" His tone was not convincing. It was completely the opposite, almost mocking.
Danny turned his head slightly to give him a mild glare, eyes narrowed, but chose not to dignify his question with a response. He was not in the habit of saying things he did not mean. Of course he thought the Spider could do it. Spider-Man was a teenager like the rest of them – prone to over-excitement, showing off and bragging. See Nova for prime examples. But one thing Danny was beginning to realize about their team leader, was that Spider-Man would never not do what was necessary.
He could be nervous, he could be afraid. He could be angry, upset or depressed. But no matter what, when the chips were down, or when someone was counting on him – Peter Parker, Spider-Man, the face made no difference. The job would get done. It would be done well, and it would be done right.
Perhaps the team still had their doubts. Their new configuration was still in its infancy, and some of them were more resistant to change then others. Not to mention, Peter's earlier peacock-strutting had grated on their nerves rather intensely.
But Danny had not only the power of the Iron Fist at his disposal. He had been trained by some of the most powerful and gifted monks in the known world and beyond the void. His senses were always on alert during a battle, and this scenario was no different. Beneath the quaver and the nervousness, there was the steel core that was becoming second nature to notice in his team leader. That unflappable iron will that was the heart of the Spider, obvious to anyone with any psychic or chi-based sensitivity training. If it had to be done, it would be done.
Slightly behind him, Luke nudged Danny's shoulder and repeated his question, a little louder this time. Danny sighed and looked away from where Peter was standing over the controls, senses set to move the instant Iron Man gave the word, and looked Power-Man directly into his sunglasses. "Of course I do," he said firmly. Loudly. Just in case Peter needed to hear it, but Danny was positive he didn't. "He's Spider-Man. He's our leader. And he will do what needs to be done. Trust in him, Luke."
Luke leaned back, radiating shock and - to Danny's pleased surprise – chagrin. "...Yeah. Yeah, you're right, man." He turned back to watch his – their – leader, poised over the keyboard. "Sorry."
Danny permitted himself a small smile, and they all returned to waiting for Iron Man's word to trap the Living Laser once and for all.
End
And of course, Peter did what needed to be done and all was well in the Ultimate-verse for another day.
It kind sorta bugs me how many times in the series they express doubt whether or not Peter will come through for them. If they've been training for a year and Fury's been planning on recruiting Spider-Man, you know they've been briefed on his past exploits. And if they can't tell Spider-Man will do what needs to be done or die trying, then they don't deserve to be his teammates.
Still, it's only episode 5, and they do get a bit better. Kinda. Sorta. Meh.