Dun dun dun! I reappear! I know last chapter was no ones favourite but you wanted Gwen to meet them, so Gwen met them! Also, to those who pointed out Peter's 10 ton strength or the mix up with the eraser, thank you. More then one already told me about his weight lifting capacity, I just got muddled up. Thanks again!
Peter swung from building to building, searching for trouble, anything to interest him and get the adrenaline pumping. Sadly it was being a slow night. Then again, he'd only been out for twenty minutes. He had told Steve he would be back in an hour or two. It would take him ten minutes to get back to the Avengers Tower, two minutes to change and he's back to nerdy Peter Parker. That meant he had around an hour and a half to save some lives, get some action and have some fun.
Ten more minutes past and Peter actually thought that the criminals were sleeping in tonight. There was no one causing trouble! Seriously! No convenient store robbers, no break ins, not even a car alarm!
Peter was about to call it a night after a very quick patrol when he heard a noise that – finally – suggested some action. A siren, the first one so far! Peter looked down and saw that it was a fire truck. He used his enhanced sight to look around the city for even a whiff of smoke and within a second he saw it. Peter swung, charging along, and found that it was a five story house burning. The whole neighbourhood had come to watch but it didn't look like anyone inside the house had come out yet. Peter looked at the house, quickly assessing the best point of entry before swinging into the nearest window. The house was ablaze, pictures on the walls melted and burnt and the history of the family seemed to be demolishing with the building.
"Hello." Peter called out. "Is anyone in here?"
There was no answer. Peter quickly and agilely crept around the house, doing his best at not getting burnt. He went through the corridors and found an assortment of bedrooms and bathrooms as well as a TV room. This was not the house of a poor family, nor did they look particularly rich. Peter stopped when he looked in one of the rooms. It was a child's room. He could make out blue walls that were now turning grey and a mix of teddies that seemed to be turning to ash. He walked into the room, making sure that no one had hidden in a cupboard.
"HELLO?" he called out again. This time he got a response. There was a loud cough coming from a room across the corridor.
Peter sprinted over, still being careful where he stepped. The door frame leading into the child's room collapsed just as Peter escaped it. There was no time to think about that though, someone needed help. Peter looked into the new room. It was small and empty, it looked like the owners were planning on redecorating. They would definitely need to now since there was a large piece of flaming ceiling cutting across the room. Peter looked around for the sound of the cough and saw an elderly man and lady huddled into a corner with two little boys. One looked to be around ten, the other looked around five.
Peter's spider sense tingled and he jumped out of the door way as some ceiling collapsed in the corridor. The elderly woman looked up in fear and alarm as she saw movement. Peter froze. The dirt and rubble made the woman's hair look like a greying black colour and her face was filled with fear and concern. She looked so similar to Aunt May. Was this what May looked like in her final moments, terrified?
"Help." she coughed, bringing Peter out of his thoughts. Peter nodded and dived across the room, avoiding the burning ceiling lying on the floor. The elderly man looked up at Peter and Peter saw hope in his eyes. He gulped quickly, shaking his head of any thoughts of his previous guardians, and then assessed his situation. There was a family of four on the floor, the nearest window was on the other side of the burning floorboards and none of them looked like they could make that jump alone.
"Is anyone hurt?" Peter asked crouching down. The youngest child jumped in fear having not registered Spiderman's presense. Peter calmly stroked the back of the boy's head in comfort.
"No, no, we're fine. Just get the boys out!" The old man pleaded. "Save my grandchildren!"
Peter nodded.
"Hey you two. My name's Spiderman." Peter said calmly, drawing the attention of the two children. "Now, I'm going to help you get out and then I'm going to come back for your grandparents, alright?"
Spiderman watched as the ten year old nodded eagerly, desperate to get out of the burning house. The younger child just clinged to his grandfather tighter.
"I'm going to need you to grab hold of my neck and I'm going to get you to that window," Peter informed them, pointing to the window. "and I'm going to need you to be strong. Okay? You have to hold on real tight."
The older boy looked as his grandma who looked back and nodded before kissing the boy on his head. The old man ruffled the boy's hair with a large hand in a form of comfort. The boy then grabbed onto Peter.
The younger child wasn't being so cooperative. He clung to his grandpa, desperately trying not to let go. He had tears in his eyes that streamed down his dirtied face. The old man kissed the child on his head before starting to pry the young child off of him. Peter took this as a sign to grab the boy. The young boy started screaming and struggling in Peter's arms. He sprayed some webbing onto the boy so that he wouldn't fall off with all his squirming.
"Shh," he mumbled softly. "I'll come back for them. I promise, once you're safe."
With that, Peter leaped back the way he came, avoiding the fire surrounding him and looked out of the window. There was fire licking up the walls and no firemen to look after the boys once they got down there. Peter looked back at the old couple now huddled together and grasping each other for dear life. They watched through the flames. Peter shook his head to tell them, no good. I need to find another way. Without waiting for any response he jumped out of the room, avoiding the flames and making sure they didn't hurt his two passengers. He saw a window in the child's room. It was a risk but he had to take it. He dove through the flames that encased the doorway. Quickly checking that none of the flames had caught, Peter went over to the window. He found it tricky to open with two children clinging to him but he managed. He watched as the smoke in the room poured out into the open air and the siren's blasted loudly around the building. Peter could see firemen pointing up and several running over.
"Boys," Peter said. "I'm going to slowly lower you down, I need you to stay with the policemen when you get there."
"Okay." the older child said, loosening his hands. The younger child, although reluctant to go with Spiderman at first, now clung to him like a life line.
"Shh, it's okay. Once you're down, I'm going back for grams and gramps." Peter reassured. The boy just shook his head.
"Danny's afraid of heights." the older boy said. Peter looked at Danny who seemed to be looking at anything but the window.
"Alright Danny, I'm going to send-" Peter looked at the older boy as if guessing his name.
"Tom." The boy prompted.
"I'm going to send Tom down first. Once Tom's feet hit the ground, he's going to call up and tell you he's okay. Then, now you know it's safe. I'm going to lower you." Peter finished. Danny nodded slightly.
Peter stuck some webbing onto Tom's back and lowered him as quickly as he dared through the window. He let go of the webbing when he saw a fireman grab the boy and help him to the ground.
"I'm alright Danny!" Tom called up. Danny quickly glanced out the window.
"Okay Danny, it's your turn. Just shut you're eyes and it'll be over soon." Peter said. He was running out of time. He could hear the building falling to pieces from the inside, the floor could give at any minute. Still, Danny did not let go. Peter quickly assessed the room and webbed a cuddly toy over. It looked the oldest yet it was the least burnt. It had been sitting on the bed which was obviously flame retardant.
"Danny, is this your toy?" he asked, holding up said item. Danny nodded, a small smile came on his lips and he grabbed the toy, squeezing it hard. It was a green lizard toy with a worn down tail as if it had been chewed.
"I want you to shut your eyes and tell me every about this lizard, okay?" Peter said. Danny nodded and screwed his eyes shut.
"His name is lizzy, short for lizard." Danny started. Peter slowly attached some webbing to the boy and forced the boy to let go. Danny just kept talking.
"He's been my best friend for all my life and..." Danny was half way down but he stopped talking, his breath hitched and Peter sped up the process.
"Keep talking." He shouted.
"and – and – and my mummy gave him to me." Danny continued. His voice was cracking. Finally, two strong firemen got him and helped him the rest of the way. Peter was gone within a second of knowing Danny was safe.
Peter shot through the flames and found the elderly couple loosing consciousness where he had left them. Peter got over to them and tried shaking them.
"Save my wife." the man mumbled in a daze. His eye's barely opened. Peter could hear a pipe crack or something. It didn't sound good. Without a second thought he grabbed them both, forgetting the link between old people and bone problems, hauled them one on each shoulder and ran out of the room. He got to the window he had dropped Danny and Tom through and started slowly sending the old lady down in the same manor. He heard the pipe crack again and dove through the window with the old man still in his arms. The room exploded behind him. He swung to the ground using a street light as his webbing holder and left the man with some paramedics that had just arrived. Peter turned to make sure everyone was alright and saw one of the men who had been helping carry the elderly lady trapped by a fallen piece of building. Peter ran over and pulled the debris of the fireman, and the man wriggled out.
"Cheers Spidey." the man called as he hobbled off. Some of his fellow firemen and women ran over to lend a hand or cheer spiderman. Of course, the rest of them were manning the hoses and attempting to shrink the flame.
Peter gave a mini salute before swinging off to finish patrol.
He found two muggings on his way back and ended them quickly. He felt emotionally and physically drained after the fire.
Peter stopped at an ally three blocks from The Avenger's Tower and changed back into civilian clothing.
He shook his head violently and tried to throw of the smell of smoke and burning the laced him. Thankfully he had thought to leave his clothes and bag away from the building so they didn't smell too bad, just of normal boy smell.
Peter strolled back to the tower and wandered through the doors to the lift. He really didn't want to bump into anyone, even if he'd gotten the ash off of his face.
"Hey Jarvis." Peter mumbled. "Seven please."
"Of course, sir." Jarvis responded. It was a quick journey with no stops or people getting on.
Peter looked around and saw that Steve wasn't upstairs just yet. Peter walked over to his room, turned on the light and collapsed on his bed.
"Would you like me to inform Captain Rogers of your arrival?" Jarvis asked.
"Sure." Peter mumbled against the pillow. Peter threw of his cloths, changed into pyjamas, abandoned his bag and snuggled under the covers.
He was just drifting off when there was a small knock on the door. Peter was too tired to answer. The door slowly opened and Peter could hear light breathing. He started drifting off again when he heard the light switch click off and a quiet whisper of "Night, Pete." from the door. It was Steve. Peter drifted off to sleep.
Peter was up early the next morning. By early, around four in the morning. His sleep had been plagued by nightmares. All he could dream of was his Aunt May and when the house burnt. The look of terror on her face. At moments, the old man he had saved was replaced by his Uncle Ben. Peter could see the disappointment when he failed to save either of them. Both had died because he was too slow, because he was not around, because he had left the house!
Steve didn't say anything when he got up at six, ready for a run, and saw Peter on their sofa, reading a chemistry book.
School was uneventful and Gwen chatted happily about dinner from the previous night. She could tell Peter didn't want to talk but he also didn't want silence so she kept talking. Lesson's were boring and uneventful and his swing home in his costume was too. There wasn't even a mugging on his way back.
Peter stopped off for an apple and to see if anyone was about on the fifth floor but it was empty. He went to the seventh floor which was also empty and did his homework. It was only five by the time he was done so he went out again.
Today had so much more action. Peter found an attempted rape, a hostage situation, two robberies and a drunk idiot almost falling out of a window.
He was swinging through the city, listening out for any more disturbances when his phone rang.
It was Steve.
"Hey Steve." Peter said, stopping on top of a building.
"Pete, where are you?" Steve asked. He was trying to sound calm but Peter could tell he was freaking out a little... just like Aunt May used to do.
"Just wandering around." Peter said offhandedly.
"Wandering around? Peter, it's almost ten o'clock! Jarvis said you left at five." Steve pointed out. Peter glanced at his watch before realising it was covered in his costume.
"Yeah, well..." Peter thought quickly trying to come up with an excuse, "there's just so much to see in this city. I just lost track of time."
"Okay." Steve said, not sure if he believed Peter or not. "Well, when can you be back? I'll start some dinner."
"I'll be back in about fifteen minutes, give or take." Peter said.
"Good. I'll get something started." Steve said before hanging up.
Peter sighed before swinging off. He needed to get further in this stuff for Connors but he wasn't sure he could do it. Oh well, he had to try!
When Peter got back, he went to the seventh floor. Steve was standing by the table where two plates of chicken, rice and veg were cooling down. Steve and Natasha seemed to be having a heated argument that stopped almost instantly when they saw Peter.
"Hi." Natasha said. Steve shot her a warning glare. She said nothing more.
"Evening." Peter said, trying and failing not to raise an eyebrow.
"Hey, why don't you go and wash your hands, Peter." Steve suggested. His tone made it sound like more than just a suggestion. Peter nodded and threw his bag into his room before going into the bathroom and getting the feeling of sweaty latex gloves off of his hands.
When he went back into the kitchen area Steve was sitting down and the doors to the lift just shut as Natasha left. Peter spared a glance to the lift.
"Fighting about anything interesting?" Peter asked offhandedly.
"No." Steve said a bit more forcefully than needed. "So, how was your day?"
Once dinner was over, Peter helped wash up and then snuck into the private lab he had been working in the previous day. It was around one when he went to bed.
The next two days were just as uneventful. Steve disappeared on Wednesday though, apparently he had to see Fury about something.
Peter was bored on Wednesday. He was sure he was on the right path with his research on Doctor Connors. He didn't have any blood or tissue to work with but he theoretically modified lizard DNA with human DNA and based his hypothesis on this.
The day droned on, double English and double maths will do that to you, no matter how much you enjoy the subject.
Peter was ready to go out on patrol once he said goodbye to Gwen but he stopped when he got to the school gate. Standing by the gate was none other than Clint Barton. He leaned against one hell of a nice sports car looking around. To anyone else he looked bored, but Peter could tell he was alert.
Peter walked over to him
"I thought I declined Tony's offer of a chauffeur." Peter said sarcastically.
"Funny, kid. I don't exactly like pick up duty either. Get in the car." Clint said glumly.
Peter did as he was told and sat in silence as Clint drove off.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on or leave me in suspenseful ignorance?" Peter said in a bored voice. Clint cracked a smile.
"Fury wants to see you." Clint said. "And he sent me to get you! Why mean? I mean, Natasha's probably more able to take Steve on in a fight. Plus his morals of less likely to hit a lady and so on."
Peter snorted at Clint's ranting.
"I'm not kidding, Pete. You're great whatever has been adamant about you not seeing Fury! He's going to kill me for dropping you off!" Clint argued. Things suddenly became clear to Peter. He now understood why Natasha and Steve were arguing constantly or glaring at each other.
"Why doesn't he want me to see one eye?" Peter asked. Clint snorted.
"I thought Tony was bad enough, now the both of you are coming up with names for him!" Clint then went serious. "He thinks Director Fury will send you back to see that Lizard guy. He doesn't want you to get hurt. And why are you so calm about this?"
Peter shrugged and they sat in silence. The drive took less than an hour. Clint led Peter took Director Fury's office and left once he was dismissed.
Fury was looking out of his office window.
"Take a seat mister Parker." he ordered.
Peter did as he was told. Fury sat opposite him.
"I want to know what you learnt from Connors." Fury stated. Peter wasn't sure where to start. "What did he want?" Fury prompted.
"He wanted help. I was right, he's got two people in his brain. Himself, and the lizard. He wants the lizard gone. He asked me to either finish his research or try and help him by creating an antidote." Peter said. His voice wavered a little bit, still nervous around Fury and the memories of his visit to Connors.
"Why ask you?" Fury pushed.
"I don't know. Maybe because I've seen his research before. Maybe he trusts me. I really don't know." Peter said honestly. Fury could see that question stressed Peter out.
"Have you decided what you're going to do?" Fury asked.
"I'll try and create an antidote for Connors. Once he's sane he can continue his research without the fear of the lizard part of him trying to take over." Peter explained. Fury nodded.
"Is there anything you need? Anything I can supply you with?" Fury asked. Peter thought for a moment.
"Can I get a sample of Connors' blood and some skin cells?" Peter asked. Fury nodded and sent a quick email.
"Where are you working on this?" Fury asked.
"I've found a deserted room which Tony barely uses." Peter said. Fury raised an eyebrow.
"Why don't you want the others to know?" he asked. Peter looked around nervously. "Peter, why won't you tell the others."
"I – I'm not impressed with myself for helping him. I helped create the Lizard, I don't want them to think any less of me for creating a monster." Peter mumbled. It sounded sort of pathetic out lout but Fury didn't laugh. He just looked calmly at Peter.
"I think they'd forgive you if they found out you helped to stop him." Fury said quietly. Peter's head shot up. He looked straight at Fury, fear evident in his eyes: he knew.
Peter forgot how to breath. He just stared at Fury.
"I listened to the feed in the room. Talk about a spider gave it away. Also the talk about George Stacy, another hint. It's my job to know these things." Fury said. He saw Peter wasn't going to say anything. "I have two questions for you. One, why won't you tell Steve at least? And two, what are your intentions as Spiderman?"
Peter took a deep breath and thought out his answers.
"It's not that – I do – I just – okay, I trust Steve, I do. I don't know, I don't want him to worry, I don't – just. I don't know." Peter stumbled with his words.
"Would you stop if Steve found out and didn't approve?" Fury asked.
"No."
"But you'd like to do it with his approval?"
"Sort of, probably."
Fury just nodded and dropped the subject.
"And my second question?" Fury asked.
"I want to help people. I just want to help." Peter said firmly. Fury nodded. He was about to continue when there was a very loud knock at the door. The person didn't wait for any sign of being allowed in, he just came in.
Steve looked pretty mad.
"Sir, I directly said that I did not want you talking to Peter." Steve stated, glaring at Fury. Peter looked over at Steve and gave a small glare.
"Surely it is Mister Parker's decision whether or not he talks to me. I hear you didn't even tell him I wanted to see him." Fury respond calmly.
"Director Fury, we discussed this-"
"Captain Rogers, wait outside until I'm done talking with Mister Parker." Fury ordered. Steve looked taken aback. He didn't expect Fury to fight back. He looked at Peter who looked slightly angry and slightly upset towards Steve. He nodded and left, shutting the door loudly behind him.
"Don't worry, the doors are thick enough even his enhanced hearing won't pick up a thing." Fury said as Peter glanced back to the door. "Back to the matters at hand, you can't hide your research for Connors forever, especially with Tony about. You also can't hide Spiderman forever. My suggestion, concur whatever fears you have on the matter and tell one of the Avengers. As long as you stay not being a threat, nor do you endanger yourself or those around you, no one will find out through my lips. On the matter of Doctor Connors, I'll have someone bring your request to you discreetly."
Peter nodded and thanked Fury and then stood up to leave. Fury called to him just before he got to the door.
"Parker, I know you might be pissed at the man now but Steve is your family, he was doing what he thought was best for you, try not to be too hard on him." Fury advised. Peter nodded and left. Steve attempted to apologise for keeping this secret from Peter but the boy kept quiet. It was an awkward journey back, some SHIELD agent dropped them off at the tower and neither said a word. Steve gave up trying to talk to Peter after five minutes of awkward talking. They went straight up to their floor, number seven and Peter went directly to his room.
"Peter." Steve called out before he shut his door. "I really am sorry."
Peter shut the door and got on with homework.
Long time no see. I finish school forever next week (ahhhh) so I should have more time to write until I go travelling. Yes sir, a month of freedom with only my laptop and then travelling. I'll do as much as I can before travelling.
For all those going through A Levels GCSEs or other horribly evil exams or coursework, good luck! And what are you doing reading this? Get back to revision!