Chapter 1: Feels So Different
Spider-Man is swinging through New York City on his daily sweep of the city.
(Hey everybody, it's none other than your favorite wall-crawler. It's been a few months after the incident with the Grandmaster and the Collector. After the brothers left our planet all the villains were rounded up by SHIELD and Fury locked them up in a secret base. )
He free falls and latches onto a building and climbs to the top. He looks around seeing people walking around, arguing, driving, and other usual activities. No masked goons robbing a bank, no thugs mugging some poor fellow in an alley, and no punk stealing some woman's purse.
"It's so… not normal… no.. I shouldn't be complaining, there hasn't been anything to upset me." The young masked hero said.
Then suddenly one of the big screens on one of NYC's building displayed Jameson's ugly face on it.
"Spider-Man is a menace! An evil liar! Those hypocrites at SHIELD will tell you he saved our city from those aliens a few months ago! But the truth is: he was working with them! He fought alongside one of them with the other super-powered freaks running around in this city!" The man with the disgusting moustache bellowed, his voice echoing through the city.
Spider-Man face-palmed and shook his head, even though he had saved the city with his friends he was still victimized by Jameson. He then swung off. While he web-swinged through the city he saw several couples spending time with one another. He saw one particularly one couple kissing intimately not caring if others saw them.
(Well everyone has someone for them….)
"Well I guess some things never change. Oh well, better go see how Aunt May is doing before I head back to the academy." He sighed as he swung back to May's house.
After some time he arrived and stealthily crawled into her house. He takes off his mask and then walks downstairs to find her and Coulson kissing on the couch. He covers his eyes and tries to sneak away.
"Oh Peter! Uh… Coulson and I were…" Aunt May gasps, her cheeks flushed. "It's ok, sorry I interrupted. I'll leave you two to your business." The embarrassed teen said. Coulson was a bit surprised, Peter hadn't ever been fond of him and May as a couple. 'What's up with him?' The SHIELD agent thought.
(Oh yeah I forgot to mention that Aunt May learned about the whole SHIELD thing after she told me she knew I'm Spider-Man.. it was quite awkward. But everything turned out ok.)
"Something wrong Peter?" Coulson asked, a look of confusion on his face. "Nope, nothing's wrong. Just wanted to see how you were doing Aunt May before I headed back to the academy." The young hero said, hiding his embarrassed and sad look. "Ok.. Thank you Peter.. Uh.." She stuttered, she herself embarrassed by the situation. 'At least she's happy. I just hope Uncle Ben would be happy for her.. I am.' Peter thought.
He put his mask back on and swung out his old room's window.
(Back in Aunt May's living room)
Aunt May had a saddened look on her face, her eyes a little less bright. Coulson noticed this immediately.
"What's wrong May?" Coulson asked. For a few moments she stayed quiet but she finally spoke, "It's Peter. He just seemed so sad lately. With nothing exciting going on lately, he's been so… I don't really know." "Want me to talk to him?" He offered. Her sad expression changed immediately. "Would you? Oh thank you!" She said as she hugged him.
She moved her lips toward his left ear.
"Now where we?" She whispered.
Coulson grinned and then locked lips with May.
(Back in the city)
Spider-Man is nearing the academy.
"Spider-Man!" A familiar voice called.
Spider-Man looked towards the academy to see Iron-Fist, one of his closest friends, outside the academy waving at him. He smiled under his mask and waved back. He landed with ease on the ground.
"Hey Iron-Fist. What's going on?" The arachnid themed hero asked. "Director Fury is planning a special training session for us today." The kung fu hero answered. "Ok." Spider-Man said, not much positive emotion in his voice.
Iron-Fist cocked his head slightly, he notice his friend's strange aura. The usually upbeat and comical guy he knew wasn't present.
"Your aura is filled with sadness and despair my friend. What's wrong?" He asked calmly but with concern. "Nothing buddy. I'm fine." Spider-Man quickly said, trying to cloak his 'aura'. "One's heart doesn't lie my friend, be honest and your soul will be free." His friend said in his usual wise voice. "I'm not lying. We'd best get going. Don't want to keep the director busy." Spider-Man said before jogging off.
Iron-Fist shook his head, but then followed his friend. The two found themselves in the meeting room. All the students present where there. Fury stood before them, his one eye trained on all the young heroes before him.
"Now that everyone's here we'll get started soon." The director of SHIELD said. "About time you showed up Webs." Nova said. "This exercise we'll be based on trust and faith." Fury started to explain. "We've been waiting some time for you now. Where we're you?" Power Man added.
Spider-Man kept his head slightly down, not really listening to anyone at the moment.
"Web-head! Pay attention and stop looking at the ground before I force you!" White Tiger hissed, literally hissed.
Immediately he stood up straight. The other heroes present chuckled, but White Tiger only shook her head.
(Ok, I might not be at full power.. but when Tiger tells you to straighten up I do it. She's been really hissy lately and it's starting to scare me.. Ok she's always scared me. In the worst case scenario I'd rather fight Grandmaster and his 'goons' instead of face Tiger when's she's pissed. She'd skin me alive.)
"You'll be in pairs and be placed in the hologram training room being tested for how well you can work together in a dangerous and stressful environment. I've already picked your partners. But to see how it should be done this pair will go last to show how everyone should act when we do this exercise next week: the pair will be Spider-Man and White Tiger." Director Fury explained.
The shrieking monkey sound came from Spider-Man's inner mind. The others turned to look at the two. Spider-Man hesitantly looked over at her. Her eyes narrowed with annoyance and anger.
"Don't screw this up Web-head." She snarled.
Spider-Man gulped as he shook with fear.
(Ok White Tiger is the strongest person I know, but she's also the scariest… I really this hopes go ever well…)
What seemed like hours Spider-Man watched the heroes work rather well together in the pairs they were stationed in. Fury placed the others in pairs where he believed the heroes would need to develop trust. For the pair who had the most strain was Nova and Zabu; after calling the big cat a fur ball the sabertooth acted rather hostile towards the Human Rocket. But after some time they eventually got along. Fury was pleased well enough with their performance to the surprise of everyone.
"Spider-Man and White Tiger, you two are up." Fury said. "You better not make a fool of us." She hissed.
The pair headed into the hologram training room and took their battle stances. The environment changed into a jungle which Spider-Man recognized instantly.
"The Savage Land." Spider-Man said. "This should be good." Tiger added.
Peter's spider sense went off. Several spears soared towards the pair. Tiger leapt forward jumping from one missile to another with grace. Spider-Man dodged each spear with low effort, but he wasn't scratched. Tiger growled at him.
"Step up your game." She whispered with a growl.
Several figures jumped through the trees. Each individual looked kind of like a foe White Tiger hated with all her being.
"They look like Kraven. Great." Spider-Man grumbled as he swung towards them.
The pair leapt at the hunters. More spears were thrown and as the two tried to dodge they hit one another. They landed on the ground. White Tiger hit her partner on his head.
"Watch what you're doing! "She snarled before she leapt forward. "Sorry.." The masked hero mumbled before he followed her.
(From the observing room)
The other heroes were whispering to one another. Fury looked on with a displeased look.
"I thought they would be doing ok. Spider-Man is our leader and Tiger is second-in-command. What's going on?" Power Man said. "Tiger has been really nasty lately; she's been putting Webs in a hell of a spot." Nova replied. "What's wrong with you Pete?" Iron Spider said. "Our friend is in an emotional trauma; his aura is full of unhealthy energy." Iron-Fist explained in his own way. "What did he say?" Rhino asked. "Webs isn't feeling like himself. He's feeling bad." Power Man answered.
(From within the hologram training room)
"SPIDER!" White Tiger screamed, her voice filled with fear.
To be continued…