So, here's your update. My cat broke my wifi so I couldn't update the day I wanted to. But here I am now. And you get an extra long chapter! (Hurray!) I went back and read the chapters I have. I noticed in the first one, I was using third person for one paragraph. Sorry about that, if you noticed it. Reviewers:

Bonded Nerdlings (CWA, apparently):Thank you, thank you very much. As I said before, glad you like it.

Oblitus Angeli: *frustration* Are you sure you're not a mind reader?

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Chapter 6

His Past

(Spidey POV)

"PETER BENJAMIN PARKER, WOULD YOU MIND EXPLAINING TO ME WHERE IN THE WORLD YOU AND DANNY ARE?" screamed my aunt on the other end.

I cringed for two reasons. One, that woman can scream pretty dang loud. Two, Phantom probably heard that, and now knows my secret identity. I was proven wrong about the second part. Phantom was just gone. I supposed he had turned invisible when the screaming from my house started, so I called for him. No answer. He must have flown off for whatever reason.

"We went to the uh- arcade," I said, wondering where Danny was.

"Tell me where you're going next time. Just because you're a teenager doesn't mean you get to infringe on my rules. Now, you two come home," said Aunt May as she hung up.

I sighed, knowing that I would have to find Danny before I could come home. The worst part was, I didn't have the foggiest idea where to start.

Even though Danny had been living with me for about a week and a half now, I still hardly knew anything about him. He always dodged questions when they presented themselves. I got up and went through my usual villain patrol routine, but this time I was just looking for Danny.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

(Danny POV)

As soon as I heard Spider Man's phone ring, I immediately took to the skies. The ringtone sounded like a personal one, so I figured the call probably had something to do with his secret identity. I knew full well what it was like to have one, I left him alone. I respected private things like that. I decided to take a nice, relaxing flight over the city. Unfortunately, I wasn't watching where I was going.

"Ow!" said the victim of my short attention span, as I crashed into none other than Spider Man.

"Uh, sorry," I said sheepishly.

"Considering the amount of disappearing stunts you pull, I'm surprised I crashed into you of all people," said Spider Man, now on the side of a building.

"Just because I disappear on everyone, which is totally awesome by the way, doesn't mean I'm not entitled to a few screw ups now and then," I fake pouted.

"Yeah, well I need to find a guy who also has a knack for disappearing. Mind helping?" asked Spider Man.

"Sure, on one condition," I said.

"Which would be?"

"'Spider Man' is just so formal. Anything else you can be called by any chance?"

"Spidey."

"Great, Spidey. Who do we need to find?"

"Danny Fenton. He has black hair and always wears a white and red t-shirt and jeans."

"What do you want to find him for?"

"Um, investigation."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Investigation? What did he do?"

"Nothing. I saw him at the park the day that loud sound was heard."

"So you want to ask him questions about the loud sound?"

"You wouldn't happen to have been involved with that either, would you?"

"Not important. Sure, I'll help you find the Danny guy. See ya!" I said, giving a little wave as I flew off.

If S.H.I.E.L.D. wanted me for investigation, that probably spelled bad things for me. I should just lay low a little longer. I flew around, enjoying the wind for a little while more. Finally, I decided I should go back. Peter or May might have noticed my absence.

I flew off towards Peter's house.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

(Spidey POV)

I heard nothing from Phantom, so I kept looking until I finally gave up and headed home. What I saw practically spelled 'convenience' in neon lights and letters the size of the Empire State Building. Danny was about a block away from my house, so I changed in a nearby alley and ran to catch up with him.

"Peter? What are you doing here?" asked Danny as I caught up.

"I could ask you the same thing," I replied.

"Anyway, did May notice the absence?"

"Yup. She called about half an hour ago, demanding we come home."

Danny whistled. "Boy, are we in trouble."

"It took me a while to find you. I told her we were at the arcade, so that's our cover."

"Alight."

The rest of the short walk was spent in silence, both of us bracing ourselves for Aunt May.

When we got to the house, Aunt May was standing in the living room with her arms crossed. There was a short argument before all of us retired for the night.

"Fury, I'm telling you, he's not hostile!" I shouted at training the next day.

"You don't know that. He might be trying to gain your trust so he can slip through our defenses more easily," replied Fury.

To say I was fed up would be an understatement.

"Why do you always assume the worst in people?" I asked angrily.

"Flint," he replied.

"That was different!"

"How so?"

"Well, um, Phantom is, um-"

"That's what I thought."

I sighed and headed towards the training room where the rest of the team was waiting. Fury had at least given Flint a chance- something he refused to give Phantom. Maybe I could get him to come to the helicarrier and try and convince Fury.

After training, I went back to the house to find Danny with his nose in some book. I bent down a little to see the title. In big green letters on the front of the book, it said, "Ghosts: Real or Fake?"

"A ghost book?" I asked Danny.

He jumped a little and then turned to me. "Yeah. Why?"

"When did you get interested in ghosts?" I asked.

He ignored me and continued reading the book. I rolled my eyes at his answer and went upstairs.

"Spider Man," said a voice in my room as I opened at the door.

Now was my turn to jump. Standing in front of me was just Coulsen. I gave a mental sigh of relief and asked him what was up.

"Have you gotten any information out of Danny?"

"No, and I'm not really trying anymore. He always avoids questions about where he came from and his past."

Coulsen grunted before jumping out the window. I didn't bother worrying because I knew he probably had some fancy grapple thing to catch his fall.

"Peter?" asked Danny, appearing at my door.

"Oh, uh, how long have you been standing there?" I asked nervously.

"About five seconds. Do you have a string or something I can use?"

"Yeah, why?"

"No reason."

Of course he would say that. Nevertheless, I gave him a piece of kitchen twine. He went off to do heavens knows what. After that brief talk with Coulsen, I was burning with curiosity about him.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

(Danny POV)

After the little street episode with Peter the night before, I wondered what in the world he had been doing out that time of night. I kept it to myself. The next day, I decided it was time to see if this dimension had accurate ghost information. I seriously doubted there would be, but I figured it was worth a look. I had gone to the library earlier that day and grabbed every book off the shelf that even mentioned ghosts.

"A ghost book?" asked Peter, making me jump.

"Yeah, why?" I said in return, wishing we would just drop it.

"When did you get interested in ghosts?" he asked, raising his eyebrow slightly.

I pretended not to hear him and went back to the book. I heard footsteps go up the stairs and I sighed in relief. No more questions. For now, I was interested to see what this dimension thought of ghosts, even if there wasn't accurate information. I didn't think it would be accurate, and I was right. It just said the typical crap about noises in old houses and stuff.

Bored, I set down the book and started towards Peter's room. I fingered Sam's ring in my pocket and forced myself not to bring up memories. I was deathly afraid the ring would get lost if I continued to carry it in my pocket, and I wasn't sure where the string was in the house.

"Peter?" I said, stepping into the doorway.

"Oh, uh, how long have you been standing there?" asked Peter with a slightly nervous tone in his voice, like he was hiding something.

"About five seconds. Do you have a string or something I can use?" I asked, again clutching the ring in my pocket.

He went down to the kitchen and I followed. He cut off a little piece of kitchen twine and I murmured a thanks. I went to my room to put the ring on it. Satisfied it wouldn't get lost, I tucked the ring under my shirt. I pulled a journal out from under my mattress. I wanted to keep one, but I really didn't want anyone to find it. And I didn't want to think about tomorrow. Tomorrow was going to be horrible. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day. Yeah, usually people think of the holiday as sappy. For me, it now would be a painful reminder of Sam. I smiled sadly at the thought of her on Valentine's Day. Oh, how she hated it. I started writing in my journal.

The millionth tear in the past month rolled down my cheek as I closed the journal, unable to write anymore.

Then, S.H.I.E.L.D. had to waltz in and ruin everything.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

(Peter POV)

I did homework for a while before I was interrupted.

"Spider Man," came that annoying voice of authority on my watch.

I sighed. "Yes, Fury?"

"Those cameras installed in your house have come in handy," he said.

"What is it?" I asked, curious and annoyed at the same time.

"Fenton has a journal hidden under his mattress. We couldn't see what it said through the cameras. That's your job. Tell me what you find," said Fury, and my watch went black.

I sighed more heavily this time. I would normally completely ignore an order like that, but I was in the dark about Danny too, and I wanted answers.

Later, when Danny ran out of his room and out the door, I took the opportunity to read this journal he was keeping. I slipped my hand under the mattress and felt around for the book. When I felt it, I pulled it out. The cover was insignificant. It was just red. I opened it and started to read.

February 1

Peter Parker from school invited me to stay at his house. I'm grateful, that's for sure. It'll be a nice change from living in the park. He lent me a little money to get a journal, another nice thing from him. I need to get it off my shoulders so I'll recount events. Vlad. Out of all the people I failed, this guy I can't muster an iota of sympathy for. He ruined my life. He caused this. Everyone on the planet. Dead. And whose fault? I honestly can't tell. Vlad or me?I want to say it's all Vlad, but who knows who's to blame? I came here. I have two things remaining that matter. The ring and the picture. I'll give them a proper burial when I can. A weird mutated Spider Man or something appeared called Venom. Not sure what to make of it.

I wondered what was going on. A ring? A picture? Who was Vlad? What did he mean the whole planet was dead? I'm still here, and everyone else. The only thing that made sense was the Venom bit. I pushed aside the questions and continued reading.

February 2

VLAD IS BACK. AND HE ONLY BROUGHT MY WORST NIGHTMARE WITH HIM. How could he be stupid? DAN? For everyone's sake, I hope he's not released. I don't know if I can handle it a second time. I won't become him. I promised.

More questions. I again pushed them away.

February 3

Besides Vlad's appearance, ghost activity has been dullsville. Thank goodness. But I've been thinking…If Vlad used a natural portal, I wonder if it's possible Danielle got out alive? It's a slim chance, but it's worth checking out.

The next few entries were just about school, but it picked up again yesterday.

February 12

There is no sign of Danielle. It was a far fetched theory, but there a glimmer of hope. I wonder if Frostbite made it? No. I need to stop. I doubt any of them found a natural portal to use. Well, a guy can hope. Two days and Valentine's Day is here. Misery for me.

The next entry sounded mushy, but it sounded like he really meant it.

February 13

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. Sam really hated that day. Isn't it just cruel? I was actually planning on asking Sam out tomorrow in another life. I bet she would have punched me and I would have laughed. But that was the life the Disasteroid ruined. I never got to tell her. I never got to tell her those stupidly sappy but meaningful words. Well, Sam, whatever afterlife you may be living, here this: I love you.

"Peter, what are you doing?" asked an angry Danny from the doorway.