Peter slept in the next room for the rest of the night and through the next day. Kraven called in for him again and winced at the sound of the woman's voice on the other end. He wondered what "Mr. Parker's" coworkers thought of their strange new science teacher. He wondered how Peter managed to keep the job this long.
To pass the time, Kraven did some research on the woman Spider-Man was reported to have saved last night. He stared at his findings thoughtfully. He believed what Peter said when he claimed to have never met her before in his life. But how did he know these things? He thought back to the televised wrestling match Spiderman had been forced to be a part of. He remembered the genuine surprise in Spiderman's voice after the spikes in his wrists came out. He remembered seeing Spiderman die on live television after the fight with Morlun.
It seemed fairly obvious to him what was happening. Granted he wasn't a scientist or anything, but he was sure it happened to mutants all the time. Granted, Spider-Man wasn't technically a mutant, but…
He heard Peter stir in the next room. He left his research. Peter sat up in the bed, knees up, head in his hands. His voice was quiet, dull.
"I did it again, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"Great." He sounded like a man resigned to the innumerable blows life would give him.
"Do you remember this time?"
Peter shook his head.
"I'm not sure… What did I do?"
"You don't remember saving the woman, telling her she was important to the children?"
Peter closed his eyes.
"I remember swinging… then pain… then being in a dumpster… I had to… I had save an important person… I saved her, I knew where she'd be and when… It was important that she live… I knew all about her… Eileen…"
He opened his eyes.
"That's sounds crazy. I don't an Eileen."
"That was her name. Eileen Saunders. She's a social worker, making real progress lately. She's well-known, very respected. I can't imagine what would have happened in her neighborhood if she died."
"Oh." Peter took the information in. "I guess this is a good thing…"
"This is amazing Peter. Don't you see what his happening?"
"I'm getting killer migraines and losing bits of my memory?" replied Peter bitterly. "Yeah, amazing."
"No. You're evolving! You're getting new powers!"
Peter sniffed himself and said sardonically, "The powers of finding the most fragrant dumpsters? That is so me."
Kraven sighed.
"I don't get you. This should be an exciting time for you. You're getting stronger!"
Peter shook his head.
"You can't understand. I teach high school, I freelance for the Daily Bugle, I work with the New Avengers, I do my own Spider-Man thing on the side, and I still haven't quite figured out how to work these damn stingers consciously." His hands tightened into fists. "I've got enough on my plate already!"
"Well, looks like you'll have to make room on the plate for more."
Peter glared at him.
"You're cute when you glare."
"Oh, shut up Tarzan."
Kraven laughed.
"That's more like it! Get up, I have Pop-Tarts and some clothes you can borrow after you shower. You reek."
…...
As Kraven led him from his penthouse building, he gave him a cell phone. "I want you to have this."
"Thanks Al, but I can't take this," Peter tried to hand it back to him, but Kraven firmly put it in his hand. He took Peter's chin and tilted his face up, looking into Peter's surprised eyes. His voice was serious.
"I do consider you a friend, you know that, right? I know you're extremely independent, but I want you to be able to call me if you're in trouble," Peter opened his mouth to speak, but Kraven shook his head. "No, listen. I'm not in any organization that I care about. I don't hold any allegiances you need to worry about. I've got your back."
He stepped back and released Peter's chin, immediately becoming much more jovial.
"Besides, I've been bored out of mind lately! If you see anything interesting, feel free to call me!"
Peter looked down at the phone, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Thanks, Al."
Kraven couldn't stop himself from gazing after Peter, dressed in borrowed clothes, the Spider-Suit in a bag on his shoulder, as he walked down the street. A realization struck him – he didn't want Peter to go.
…...
Logan gave Peter a weird look as he entered the building.
"What?" asked Peter defensively.
Logan shrugged and continued on his way.
"Whatever, kid. Your personal life is your own business. Knock yourself out."
Logan walked out the door, muttering under his breath, "I knew it all along."
Comprehension was slow to dawn. Then Peter looked down at his borrowed, too big clothes, thought about what this must look (and smell) like, and flushed a bright red.
…...
"Where have you been?"
Peter shrugged.
"Just out late. Giving the Spider-Suit new and exciting odors."
"You need to check in once in a while! What if the Avengers needed you? We should know where you're at!"
Tony was following him down the hall and he was brought to an abrupt stop when Peter whirled around to face him. He put a finger to his chest.
"Listen, Tony, you told me you weren't my boss! I agreed to be part of the New Avengers and I know that, but I'm going to go out and do my own thing some nights and if you have a problem with that, I'm leaving!"
Tony put his hands up and immediately put up a placating expression.
"I know, I know. But Peter…" He clapped both hands on Peter's shoulders. "Not so long ago, you were dead. I just worry. Am I allowed to worry?"
Peter was only somewhat mollified.
"I do appreciate it, Tony. But I'm fine. I can take care of myself."
"I know. But I can help. Why not accept my help?"
Peter looked to the side. "I just don't need it," he insisted.
"Are you sure? Nothing new happening with you lately? Nothing I can help you with?"
Peter pulled away.
"Nothing you need to worry about!" he said, walking down the hallway.
"Peter…" Tony tried to call him back but he knew the conversation was over. Peter kept walking.
"I've gotta go. I've got a ton of homework to grade. Let me know when you need me!"
He turned the corner and ran into Captain America.
"Are you really ok?"
He had obviously overheard the conversation.
"I'm fine, thanks," Peter insisted, moving steadily on until a gloved hand clapped it down on his shoulder.
"Son, you're on a team now. What affects one of us can affect all of us. We're here to help each other, remember that."
"I'm fine," Peter repeated, though with noticeably less vigor.
Cap stared at him for a moment, then let go of his shoulder.
"Fine. Do what you will, you're going to anyway. Just remember, you have friends."
"Yeah, I'm really starting to get that."
…...
"Hello?"
Heavy breathing on the other line.
"Pete?"
"He's got a bomb. Oh God, he's going to kill all those people." Sounds of retching followed this.
"Where are you?"
"All those people. I know all about them, their families, their loves, their hates…"
"Peter, listen to me! Where are you?"
"Brown jacket. Black hair."
"Where are you?"
"Jeans. A red and yellow baseball cap."
"Pete, just tell me where you-"
"I'm... going to go. 4150 Barton Street. Lots of people… I think… maybe… I might need help."
"No Pete, let me-"
Click.
Kraven swore and threw some clothes on, running out of the building
No one died. There was no explosion. Just an extremely tense stand-off between an insane, cowardly scientist with a taste for death and two tired super-heroes that ended in only a few bruises all around. Kraven knocked him out and Spider-man disarmed the bomb that was strapped around his waste.
They handed the jerk over to the cops who did their usual 'you heroes are under arrest' deal which Spider-man easily slung away from. Once they were a good distance away, he paused on a rooftop, Kraven leaping up to meet him. They stood across from each other breathing heavily.
"You were doing pretty good back there! No passing out this time, huh?"
Spiderman laughed far harder than the joke warranted and cheerfully replied, "Yeah, isn't it great?"
Then he hit the ground.
Kraven swore. Then he felt heat above him and heard a familiar voice.
"What the hell did you do to him?"
Kraven looked up and saw flames. Kraven swore again. The day's events were wreaking havoc on his vocabulary. He wondered what his lawyer was doing today. She was hot. She didn't have any powers.
"I don't feel like dealing with you again!"
"Get away from him you bastard!" The Human Torch ordered, immediately starting to fling balls of flame at him.
Kraven jumped out of the way, bringing Spider-man with him.
"Are you completely brainless? Be careful!"
"What the hell did you do to him?"
More flame was thrown at Kraven. Kraven swore some more, hopping around with an unconscious superhero flopping around in his arms. He put his hands up.
"I'm helping him you idiot! Only, I'm not sure what to do! Is Reed around?"
"What the"
"IS REED AROUND?"
A new gravelly voice entered the mix.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
Kraven turned around and looked up. Way up. Ben Grimm had entered the scene, coming onto the roof through an actual door.
"Oh thank God. A reasonable person."
"He attacked Spider-man!"
"I attacked Spider-man? You're the one throwing flame at him!"
"I was throwing flame at you!"
"Well, I'm holding on to Spider-man right now you idiot!"
Kraven turned to The Thing.
"Spider-man's been having these… attacks I guess. He's been passing out after certain rescues. This is the third time that I know of. He'll sleep all day. I think he needs serious help. Can you help him?"
Thing measured Kraven up in silence.
"I believe you."
"What?" asked Torch. "Ben, this guy is evil!"
"Shut it for a moment Johnny. Webs is in trouble and we're going to help him out. Now go run and get the car. Webs has always been there for us – it's our turn to help him out."
…...
"You're going to have to let your teammates know."
"What? No! Don't tell them!"
"Son, I'll keep quiet for now, but if you don't let them know soon, I'm telling them. What if you collapse in the middle of the mission? They depend on you."
"I know."
"I don't understand your reluctance. You told this ex-con, ("No offense, of course." "Yeah right." but you don't tell Tony who has only ever wanted to help you."
"I know. I don't know why either."
"So you'll tell Tony about this."
"Yeah. Thanks for helping me Reed."
"That's what friends are for."
…...
tbc
Author's Notes: For those of you unfamiliar with the
newer comics, the Kraven in this story is Alyosha Kraven, the second,
unloved son of the now deceased Kraven the Hunter and nephew of the Chameleon. Until today, I was only familiar with
the rich, playboy Kraven of Ron Zimmerman's truly awful mini-series Get
Kraven (and the prequel) and the new mini-series, Beyond! (that
actually looks promising). This Alyosha Kraven is apparently very
different from the original who was a crazy wild man. So... yeah. Just
fyi.
I learned this at It's a great site. Check it out.
AND REVIEW MY STORY! PLEASE!