Peter sat next to his Aunt May as Jaime showered. His laundry was tumbling in the washing machine in a calm rhythm. Overall perfectly normal. Or as normal as it could be.
"So how did you meet Jaime?" Peter ventured toward learning about the teen.
"He helped bring my groceries to the car."
Peter blinked in confusion. He was not expecting that.
"They were all out of carts and I was having a bit of trouble grabbing all my bags so he grabbed a few and brought them to the car. We talked for a bit and well, I found out he had nowhere to go. So here we are."
"Aunt May, you don't know anything about him," Peter stated. She sipped her tea calmly before looking Peter in the eye.
"Peter. He is alone and scared. I think he's an orphan."
Peter didn't say anything. It was harder to keep him out when they were so much alike. Hey, orphans stuck together. Sometimes. Well, there were similarities. Okay so Peter wanted to get to know him a bit. He hadn't met other kids who were orphans. Maybe lived with a parent or other relative but not quite orphaned like he was.
"So... He going to Midtown High?"
"I'll be talking to Jaime about schooling while we help him get home."
The two sat in silence as they waited for their new house guest to join them downstairs.
Jaime looked at himself in the mirror. A frown on his lips. He turned his body to look at his back. He saw a familiar glimmer of blue lazily nestled between his shoulder blades, embedded in his back.
"For a sophisticated piece of alien technology, you would think you could be more discreet," Jaime muttered.
He stood in apparent silence for a moment. He sighed, grabbing Peter Parker's clothes, slipping them over his new clean body. Twisting his body, he searched his back for any abnormalities. Seeing none he unlocked the bathroom door. He opened it slowly, peering down the empty hall. All too often he had been nearly discovered from a pat on the back from his dad or mom, or nearly released a plasma cannon on his teammates who found it funny to scare him.
Wasn't his fault he was so paranoid. It wasn't.
"Jaime? Are you done?"
That was... May Parker. She was the lady he helped with her groceries. And somehow got roped into living with her and her nephew. He really needed to set up a long term base and food supply. Perhaps speak with other heroes he had seen around. But was there any place that housed heroes like Mount Justice used to?
"Jaime?"
"Si? I'm out Mrs. Parker," Jaime responded quickly realizing he had been lost in his own thoughts rather than arguing.
"... Yes we do argue!... Oh shut up!" he growled to himself. He walked down the stairs to join May Parker and Peter Parker respectively. He joined them in their living room, sitting across from Peter.
"Sorry I took so long," Jaime blushed once he saw the clock. An hour in the bathroom. Go figure.
"No it's fine," May assured him. Peter didn't meet his gaze which was perfectly fine for Jaime. Less eye contact, less urge to communicate, the further they stayed from one another. Easier to leave with no loose ends.
They sat in tense silence for a moment not knowing what to say. But Jaime's stomach new what it wanted as it growled loudly. And not just loudly, but it was a long growl that went from low to high, back to low, only to die down.
"Hungry?" Peter snickered. Jaime gave a small smile.
"Ah, maybe a little," he admitted. May smiled. Standing up, she began walking toward the kitchen.
"What are you in the mood for Jaime?" May asked.
"Anything is fine with me Mrs. Parker."
"Alright. Meatloaf then," May smiled walking out of the room. Jaime raised a brow curiously at Peter.
"Last night's leftovers," Peter explained.
"Better than Chicken Whizzies," Jaime muttered to himself. They were okay but Bart's obsession was a little excessive and frightening.
"What about chicken?" Peter asked.
"Eh-Nothing!" Jaime answered quickly. Best to learn the layout before saying anything that would bring questions.
"Chicken? I think we have some in the fridge."
"No!" Jaime said putting his hands up as if to defend himself, "That is the last thing I want."
"Don't like chicken?" Peter asked.
"No, I like it. I just had a friend who had a bit... Of an obsession of chicken."
"Oh."
Hours after Peter had met Jaime, Spiderman was swinging through the city continuing his search for the Beetle wannabe. He wasn't successful and had no luck convincing his team to assist him. And he was not going to SHEILD about this. One way ticket to therapy was not needed. No thank you.
It didn't take long for him to park on a tall building's roof. He watched the streets carefully.
"These late nights aren't doing any good for you Spiderman."
Peter turned to see Iron Fist standing behind him with his arms crossed.
"I know what I saw Fist. There's someone out here."
"Paranoia unsettles every foundation."
"And to ignore the signs is to welcome defeat. Fist, you aren't going to change my mind."
"I know. But Fury is taking notice of your "searching" Spiderman."
"Then he knows what I'm looking for."
"Yes. However, he is not happy that you have not mentioned that to him."
"Is that all?" Peter snorted.
"No. Fury believes you're being followed."
"Yeah by a creepy pirate in an airship."
"No. By an enemy source."
"Who?"
"He isn't sure. Though all your security footage is on loop of you and your Aunt May discussing your science project. Over, and over again."
"Really? Forgot about the cameras. Wait, so he doesn't know about Jaime?"
"Who?"
"Aunt May picked up a stray. He's living in my house right now."
"Fury will not be pleased."
"Well he can blow it up his-"
He was interrupted by a police siren before he could finish.
"Perhaps we should discuss this later. There is crime in progress."
"Alright. Still not happy with Fury," Spiderman grumbled firing his webbing onto another building.
So who should Peter and Fist fight? Please answer in your review.
