Chapter 3

Cat Got Your Tongue

"Me and my big mouth" Peter moaned as he awoke inside the Helicarrier's med-bay. The level 5 threat ended up being Magneto on one of his 'all humans must die' rampages. They had been able to hold him off until the X-men arrived, and soon after that it was lights out for Spidey as half a building decided to fall on him. Power-man pulled him out and got him to the medics as fast as possible. Ergo him, waking up, in a world of pain.

Spider-man looked down to see most of his body covered in bandages. It looked liked he was going to be in this room for a while. "I wonder how I'm going to explain this to Aunt May."

"You were injured helping a Shield agent you saw in a destroyed building so Shield has decided to get you the best care." came a strained voice from the side of his bed. Peter turned to see Ava sitting there quietly reading a book.

Peter had no idea what to do. The last time he had seen Ava she had been running away from him after seeing him hugging Mary-Jane. And now he had woken up to her at his bedside. "Hey there Tiger" Spider-man smiled weakly "You got 50 shades of gray under that math book, don't you?"

Ava blushed guiltily as she removed the math book cover to reveal a book titled 'Webs of Passion'. "Seriously" Spider-man exclaimed raising an eyebrow. "I have a Harlem romance novel about me?"

"The story is completely unrealistic" Ava admitted then smiled shyly "Though I do enjoy the... more adult parts of the story. It helps that I've seen you with your shirt off, and I like to replace the romantic interest with myself. You should read it, you wouldn't believe the uses of webs the author comes up with."

Peter turned about 50 shades of red after hearing that. Ava was flirting with him, and he was loving it. He wanted to flirt back but the scene from school with Mary-Jane played in his head. He had to clear things up. "Ava, about Mary-Jane, it's-"

"It's okay web-head, we talked right after you left." Ava looked down at her book. She felt guilty for jumping to conclusions, and she still felt a little jealous of Mary-Jane, even if she knew there was nothing between the red-head and Peter besides friendship. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions, but when I saw you holding each other I forgot that you two have been friends for forever."

"You're right" Peter told her. "Mary-Jane and I have been friends for as long as I can remember, but that's as far as it goes. Talking to her helped me realize something I kinda missed before."

"And that would be?"

"Cats are in"

"Huh?" Ava was confused, not sure what Peter meant.

Peter took a deep breath to steady himself. He wasn't good at these kind of things at all. "Ava, there's a list longer than the Helicarrier of reasons we shouldn't be together, but I'm willing to throw that list into the fire and try this, if you are."

"What are you trying to say?" Ava asked with her heart in her throat.

"Ava Ayala, will you go out with me?" Peter blushed "You know, when I'm not stuck in this bed."

The White-Tiger couldn't believe her ears. Peter Parker, master of being clueless, just as asked her out. She felt her chest become tight and her face hot. Before she knew it Ava was over the boy, her lips locked against his. Peter was frozen in shock but slowly began to kiss her back. This was much better than his first kiss with MJ, which by the way he was never telling Ava about. Her lips were as soft as pillows and tasted somewhere between honey and mint.

Ava's uninjured hand found it's way into Peter's hair and pulled him closer to her. Careful not to agitate his wounds Ava climbed into the bed, her lips never leaving his. She whimpered when Peter's tongue gently caressed her bottom lip, requesting entrance, which she gladly gave. A low growl rumbled in her throat as they tested the waters, the tips of their tongues touched softly.

Peter's head felt like it was full of steam and it was leaking out his ears. Every touch felt like fire meeting ice. His hands rested against her hips, rubbing small circles. Ava sighed contently into his mouth before pulling away. "There's my answer Parker" she purred, resting her head on his chest.

"Good answer" Peter chuckled, running his fingers through her hair. Good old Parker Luck, not so bad when you concentrate on the good things.

"Ahem"

Peter almost forgot how fast cats could be as Ava shot out of the bed and into the chair before turning to the owner of the voice. "A-agent Coulson."

"Good evening White-Tiger, I'd like to talk to Spider-man." The Shield agent said politely

Ava gathered her things to leave. Turning just before she walked out the door she smiled one last time at Peter. "I'll see you later."

Now that it was just Peter and agent Coulson the wall-crawler was starting to sweat. "Agent Coulson, about White-Tiger, it-"

"Peter" Coulson said with a small smile "You were man enough to be mature about me and your aunt, I don't see why I can't return the favor. However, there is something important I need you to consider."

Peter didn't like the sound of that. "What is it?"

"I think you should tell your aunt about you being Spider-man."

"What!"

"Listen Peter" Wow, Coulson used his fist name twice, this was serious. "You're aunt has been very concerned about you lately, and this incident hasn't helped. I know you are worried about how she'll react, but I see how much she cares about you and I know that she'll accept you for who you are."

"You don't get it Coulson" Peter said desperately "I don't want to worry my aunt with this, she doesn't need to know that her nephew is out there fighting giant lizards and robots."

"Not knowing will make her worry more than knowing." Coulson pressed on. "Your aunt is a strong woman, she can handle the truth. More importantly you shouldn't have to lie to the people you love. You're a hero Parker, I'm sure your aunt will see that too."

Peter looked up at the Shield agent, unsure of how to answer. His aunt May was the only family he had had for the longest time, but somehow his family had grown. Ava, Luke, Danny, Sam, Coulson, and even Fury had become a part of his life he couldn't live without anymore. They supported him and cared about what happened to him, and they all knew who he really was. Not just Spider-man, not just Peter Parker. He was both and they understood that, so maybe Aunt May would too. "You're right" Peter sighed finally.

"I happen to agree, even if you both skipped the chain of command in deciding this" Came a voice from the doorway.

"Director Fury..."

"Man, is it some kind of super-spy thing that you guys always have to scare the spandex of the Spider-man" Peter grumbled.

"I know you both know what telling May Parker means, the responsibilities that come with this knowledge." Fury continued, ignoring Spider-man, like usual. "I know that you feel like you need to protect her from the truth, and usually I would agree with that. But in the end, it's your call."

"Geez, thanks. No pressure at all" Peter mumbled under his breath. "All right, all right, I'll tell her."

"Good-"

"When I'm all healed, cause she's gonna kill me for not telling her right away."

Author's note: sorry this chapter's a little weak, but the next one will be better