A/N: Sorry for the delay everybody! The really long delay! Serious case of writer's block, lack of inspiration, work schedule, and personal stuff mucking up the releases. This chapter will be a couple a little shorter than my usual chapters. I am not abandoning the story; I do hope to get more frequent with the releases. I do value your guy's input so please leave those reviews. Also, I do wonder if I'm hitting home on the personalities of the characters on how they're depicted in comics, cartoons, and movies. I am trying to do the characters justice. Anyways let's get this chapter under way, shall we?
Chapter Six: It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day, It's a New Life...
Triskelion-Manhattan, New York
If there was one thing Fury hated about his job, it was having to deal with the politics of the World Security Council. Having just ending a meeting with them via holo-conference, it was clear that until the situation becomes clear as to Latverian involvement, S.H.I.E.L.D nor anyone else was to make a move against Victor Von Doom. Right now, the WSC was viewing this as a contained incident involving a group of super-powered thugs. Fury shook his head in disbelief and looked out onto the city, his jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed.
"How can the council be blind to Doom's actions? They want to avoid war and conflict with Latveria? They brought the war right in the middle of Manhattan with a squad of metahuman/enhanced human criminals! Like Doom isn't enough to deal with. I also got Ock on the loose helping him. And Parker..." He closed his eyes and let out sigh. Nick looked back out onto the city remembering the outcome of Spider-Man and Ock's last battle.
Flashback-Ten Months Ago
"CLEAR THE WAY!" shouted one of the medics. A group of them were barreling down the hallway of a S.H.I.E.L.D Emergency Medical Station with a gurney carrying the unconscious and heavily damaged body of Spider-Man. The finally got to the operating room and a team of doctors and surgeons went to work on sustaining him.
"What are we dealing with?" one of the doctors asked.
"Severe concussion, multiple lacerations across his cardiothoracic cavity, internal bleeding, two broken ribs, dislocated femur, and his left radius fractured in two places," one of the medics replied. Everyone started bustling around the room doing everything within their power to stabilize the young superhero.
From the observation room, Fury looked on the young man. Fury had always learned to always keep a damn good poker face, if it weren't for the numerous amounts of tears running down his cheeks you would have thought he wasn't affected by what he was seeing. He remembered all those years ago when he came to Peter to tell him just how different his life had been since he was bit by the Oscorp spider. That one day he would be a part of the world's largest peace-keeping organization the world has ever known. Sure... he may have lied a few times here and there like the time he was asked if he knew Peter's father in any way when Peter questioned him during the whole Venom fiasco. But that was all to protect Peter. Hell, he was watching over Peter his entire life, keeping his promise to a friend he recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. to make sure said friend's son was safe.
Then came the day Peter turned eighteen. He turned Fury down on his 'recruitment', or more accurately put, blackmail Fury with classified intel that would put him on trial in front of a congressional subcommittee. All of that to just let Peter continue doing what he's been doing since he was fifteen. Fury wasn't even mad. In fact, he was impressed. But that didn't mean he'd stop looking out for him.
"Kid would've made a damn good spy," Fury thought at the time. But now all he was thinking, "I'm sorry, Ray. I couldn't keep him safe this time."
Eventually the medical team was able to stabilize Peter. Fury knew that the hyper-regenerative processes of his body was already at work. By the end of the that week he would be walking out of the facility with nothing more than a few bumps and bruises, but for now all Fury could see was the broken and battered form of a young man in his prime hooked up to tubes and wires.
Hearing the doors of the room open behind him, Fury turned around to see Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and worst of all... May Parker.
"What happened, Fury?" Stark asked.
"That's classified, Stark," Fury shot back.
"An Avenger is laying in that operating room, fighting for his life. One of our own. Classified or not, it's our business," Cap stated firmly.
Fury looked at all of them and opted to the truth. "Several hours ago, Otto Octavius made a move on a S.H.I.E.L.D sanctioned Nuclear research facility. Considering Peter's past and experience with Ock, I brought him in to help deal with the situation along with several other agents."
"That right? So, let me get this straight? Pete heads in there to fight Ock along with your men to protect whatever nuclear secrets S.H.I.E.L.D has? That part I understand. But what I don't understand is why Mrs. Parker here told us that Pete told her he was heading there, but expecting his team, us, to show up?" Tony stated angrily.
Fury narrowed his eyes at Stark. "You lied to him, Nick. You said we would be there, but you had no intention of bringing the rest of the Avengers into the loop," Steve said.
"It was a S.H.I.E.L.D matter. It didn't require the Avengers."
"But you sent out a distress call to Peter. Let me guess. You still want him apart of S.H.I.E.L.D?" Tony asked.
Fury just glared at Tony. "Peter's talents are better suited to..."
SMACK!
Nick never got the chance to finish his sentence as the left side of his face felt the harsh sting of May Parkers hand slapping him. She never raised her voice, but the look in her eyes and the fiercest expression Fury ever saw in a middle-aged woman's face, made Fury only slightly cringe with guilt. Not even his worst enemies made him cringe in the slightest.
"You lied to him. Telling Peter that his team, his friends were going to be there to back him, full well knowing the threat that eight-limbed monster was. And now..." May struggled between angry sobs," and now my darling nephew, my boy, is fighting for his life because you lied to him." May Parker was not a vengeful woman, but when you earned her ire... God help you. "Don't you ever come near my boy again. I don't care what illusion of power or control you think you have. You come near him, and I swear you will regret it."
May almost fell to her knees from the emotional exhaustion if it weren't for Steve steadying her. Cap escorted her out of the room "Come on, May. Let's go. There's nothing we can do for Peter right now. He'll be up on his feet in no time. That young man of yours is a fighter."
"Of course, he is. He's a Parker." All three left the room, leaving Fury with a sore left cheek, and a heavy heart.
End Flashback
Fury still had the same amount of guilt in him since that day almost a year ago. The double doors to his office opened as Agent Carter approached his desk.
"Is it done, Agent Carter?"
"It is, sir, but I have serious reservations about the lengths you're going to protect Parker. I mean... you're now meddling with his life. He doesn't need that kind of thing right now. I mean the bugs we planted in his home was already over the top..."
"I'll go to whatever lengths I see fit to ensure his safety. When you make a promise to a friend Agent Carter, you take that promise to the grave. That's the level of loyalty Richard Parker showed me and the same loyalty I'll give in return."
"I still think you're making a big mistake, Fury. Parker's not a boy anymore. He deserves the truth... about everything." With that Carter left a brooding Fury to his own thoughts.
Manhattan, New York
"WOOOHOOO!" Across the New York skyline was a red and blue clad figure performing numerous acrobatic feats whilst swinging full speed towards Four Freedoms Plaza. Underneath that mask, Peter Parker had a smile that could light up Time Square. Two weeks ago, Peter and Jen had officially become a couple. But being that the duo valuing the privacy of their new romance have yet to tell any others. Whenever the both of them were out in the city, Jen opted out to her human form, as to not draw attention. She drew enough the first time she took Peter out. The wallcrawler soon landed on the corner of a fifteenth story building ledge next to a rather grim looking gargoyle.
"I'll tell you what Bruce, life sends you a lot of curveballs when your job description includes saving the world while wearing something resembling spandex. Especially when one of those curveballs happen to be one of the most sought-after women on the planet. I know it ain't all meant to be perfect but bless my soul it sure feels like it right now."
Peter reminisced the past couple of weeks where he and Jen were spending special moments together. After their date the previous night, Jen took Peter back to her place where she decided that night she wanted to bed him, not as the green bodacious She-Hulk, but as ordinary golden-tanned Jennifer Walters.
Flashback
"You know I want you either way right, Jen? As long as it's you," Peter said as he ran his hand through the shoulder length brown locks of Jen's hair. She was currently her normal self, in a lacey white bra and matching panties, straddling Peter's lap as he was laying down on her rather large bed. While Jen Walters may not have been a statuesque Amazon like her emerald counterpart, she was still a beauty in the eyes of many. Possessing an athletic build, a decent sized bust, and rounded rear, it was sufficient to say that on a physical level Peter was enamored to the same extent as her big green self. Despite her variation in looks, Jen still had that award winning personality, albeit more reserved and meeker than She-Hulk. She looked up at him, halting her attack of kisses up and down her lover's torso and smiled.
"I know, Peter. This is more about me loving both sides of myself. She-Hulk has had plenty of fun, now it's Jennifer Walters's turn." She continued to kiss Peter's chest all the way to the crook of his neck. A spot Jen knew drove Peter crazy.
Shucking off his boxers, Peter flipped Jen onto her back and began his own passionate assault, starting with disrobing the lovely attorney. "Whoa, someone ate his Wheaties this morning. Just remember a may be a tad bit more physically delicate, Pete."
"Don't worry, Jen, I'm as gentle as a lamb. I'll try not to break your hip," Pete chuckled.
Jen gave him a death glare, "Yeah, keep making your old jokes, webs for brains. We'll see who's laughing when a pair of thick green thighs crush your hea-OOOH!" Jen let out a surprised gasp as Peter plunged his manhood into Jen's soaking entrance.
"Sorry what was Ms. Walters?" Peter looked down at his girlfriend with a predatory gaze.
"It would be nice- AH- If you gave- Mm- A girl a little warning first before- OH FUCK YES!"
"Before what? I can't hear you," Peter said sing-song.
"BEFORE RAVISHING MY BODY FOR ALL ITS WORTH! DON'T STOP!"
"Not planning on it!" Peter began moving in and out like a wild piston. Jen's legs wrapped around Peter's waist, and her arms clawing at his back. Peter looked down into Jen's big brown doe eyes and thought, "Dear God, this woman is ruining me for anyone else. You Jen Walters are perfect."
Jen stared right back at him, biting down on her lower lip thinking, "You wonderful man. Take me. Use me. As long as I'm yours."
Soon both of them cried out in pleasure as they were brought to the brink. Peter and Jen found themselves curled up together, a light sheen of sweat covering their bodies. Jen brought her hand up to Peter's cheek and rubbed it softly. No words were necessary for what either of them felt in that moment.
"You know you still have to pay for the old joke, right Pete?"
"Not that I wouldn't love making that up to you all night long, but don't you have court tomorrow?"
Jen smiled mischievously as her eyes glowed a bright green, "Oh, I could make do with the loss couple of hours of sleep."
End Flashback
Life seemed to be looking up for Peter, but as fate would have it his words would come back to bite him. He made his way to the upper floors of Four Freedoms Plaza, where a large gateway to the Negative Zone stood. S.H.I.E.L.D definitely heightened up the security around the place. He'd seen plenty of familiar faces. The agents and guards were close to General Fury. But that's what it takes to keep the meteorite safe.
When his boss and mentor, Max Modell, called him to ask if it was true that he was going to another dimension to study the extraterrestrial energy source, Peter couldn't stop rambling about how cool all of it was. The thing he loved about Max was that when he they both had many of the same interests and when one of them started rambling, then the other couldn't stop rambling as well.
Peter soon found himself in front of a facial/retinal scanner at the security checkpoint. "Here we go," Peter grinned. However, what should have been a perfect day was going to be anything but that.
"ACCESS DENIED"
"What?!"
"Sir, please step away from the security gate," one of the guards said. As they slowly reached for their tasers, Peter caught on this via his spider-sense and backed away. Luckily the scene caught the attention of Tony Stark.
"What the hell is going on here?" Stark demanded.
"This man is unauthorized to pass through the gate."
"Unauthorized-By who?!"
The guard took the tablet that was at his post and looked up the information. "By authorization of Director Fury."
"What?! Why?! What the hell did I do?!" Peter seethed.
"Pete, calm down. We'll figure this out. But for now, head home. You'll be compensated. Please trust me," Tony pleaded.
Peter let out a frustrated sigh and turned on his heels and left.
"And here comes the same old song. The Parker Luck. What a bitch," Peter thought.
Tony looked on the retreating form of the young man with confusion and sadness at his predicament. He then turned to the guard, glaring at him.
"You have one minute to get your boss on the phone, and I'm not asking," Stark growled.
"Y-yes sir," the guard stammered.
Harlem Courthouse-Manhattan, New York
The case that had been presented to Jennifer was a one all too common in the day and age where youngsters were developing mutant abilities and very bigoted and vile breed of people showed their hatred. Currently She-Hulk was cross-examining ethe therapist of her client, thirteen-year-old Jonah Miller. The young boy, who had just months prior discovered that he had pyrokinetic and minor regenerative powers, recently caused damage to a diner where he had a panic attack, which activated his abilities, when the owner was witnessed verbally attacking him for being a mutant.
"Doctor Burton, based on the information that my client willfully agreed to disclose, you truthfully acknowledge that from an early age Mr. Miller had episodes of major anxiety attacks?"
"That is correct."
"Is it also correct that based on Mr. Millers' secondary regenerative mutation that any drug prescribed to him would be of little to no help for him?"
"Yes, Ms. Walters. His headmaster, who so happens to be Professor Charles Xavier, and I have corresponded as to how best to help him."
"Based on your knowledge of the defendant, do you truly believe that he would intentionally cause harm to anyone?"
"Absolutely not. Anxiety is brought on by the buildup of stress. Mr. Miller is a very non-confrontational person, and the emotional reaction of fear when Mr. Bullard harassed him-"
"OH COME ON! I'VE GOT THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND BUCKS WORTH OF DAMAGE BECAUSE THAT LITTLE FREAK AND-" A portly, bald fellow screamed as he shot up from the prosecution table.
"ORDER! Councilor, get your client under control or I will have him removed," The judge demanded.
"Ahem- I think we get the picture, doc," Jen stated. "The defense rests, your honor," she said to the judge.
"Very well. Prosecution, you may begin your closing arguments." The prosecuting attorney was a slim, hair greased man in three piece suit. He had a pompous look about him that made him think that he can get by with charm alone in this case. He was even so bold to give Jen a wink, much to her disgust.
"Yes, your honor. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, my client Mr. Bullard has been an upstanding citizen for nearly two decades. A reputable business owner and pillar to the community has been wronged because a juvenile thought he could get away with testing his powers on a hard-working Americans place of business. Like a child testing out a new toy. I urge you to consider what this may do to my client's reputation. Thank you."
The man went back to his side of the court whilst Jennifer made her way before the jury. "Distinguished jurors, we live in a day and age where superpowers, aliens, even magic is thrown into the mix of our everyday lives. Even in the midst of all these extraordinary occurrences, we must remain objective and rational. My client, Jonah Miller, has exhibited signs of intense anxiety from the age of five. Numerous experts in the fields of genetic mutation can confirm that things like emotional stimuli in times of stress can bring about spontaneous reactions in regard to their abilities. The prosecution, Miles Bullard, is not as squeaky clean as we are led to believe. It is on the public record that he is an associate with convicted men and women who are members of the supremacist group, the Friends of Humanity. Numerous witness's have confirmed that he was speaking degenerately towards young Mr. Miller after it was made public knowledge that he was a mutant. Take this all into consideration, and please ladies and gentlemen, remain objective to the facts."
It took the jury very little time to reconvene and deliver their verdict. "We find the defendant, Jonah Miller, innocent."
A mix of applaud and outrage filled the room. As the judge called the court to order, gunfire cut through the noise. Everyone looked to see Bullard waving a pistol in the air.
"SCREW INNOCENT! SCREW MUTANTS! YOU AND YOUR KIND CAN GO TO HELL!"
Bullard aimed his gun at the young mutant and fired. In the blink of an eye, Jen intercepted the bullet by using herself as a human shield. The bullet bounced off of her and she leapt in front of Bullard, lifting him up by his firing arm, ripping the gun from his grasp. The bigoted gunman expression went from rage to quivering fear as he beheld the Jade Giantess before him. Jen looked down at the blazer she was wearing and noticed the hole the bullet made. She looked back at Bullard with a very agitated look.
"Do you have any idea what this blazer cost?" she growled.
"S-s-s-sorry?" Bullard stammered.
"You will be." Jen lightly punched Bullard between the eyes, the force of which sufficient enough to knock him out. Later outside the courthouse Jonah and his parents were thanking Jen for everything. Not just defending Jonah as a lawyer, but saving the young boys life.
"We can never thank you enough, Ms. Walters," Jonah's mother said through joyful sobs.
"Oh, don't mention it. It's what I'm here for," Jen grinned. She looked down at the young man who was still a bit shaken by what happened in the courtroom.
"Hey, Jonah," she placed a hand on his shoulder. "What you went through today took an exceptional amount of courage. To be afraid is a natural part of life, the trick is to not let that fear divert you from living to the best of your ability. The greatest power any of us have is to take hold of our life, do what's right, no matter how afraid we can get. Believe me, I know from experience."
The young Mr. Miller looked up at the large green attorney and smiled warmly, a single tear streaming down his face.
"Thank you, Ms. Walters. I'll never forget that."
The boy and his parents left and Jen made her way down the steps of the courthouse when her cell phone went off. She looked at the I.D. to see that it was Sue calling.
"Hey, Sue! What's my invisible sister from another mister know?" Jen chuckled.
"Jen, I need you to come by Four Freedoms Plaza. It's urgent. Reed, Tony, and I need your legal services."
"Oi. What happened this time?"
"It's not in regard to us. Nick Fury barred Peter from his research post. We're filing a legal suit with S.H.I.E.L.D."
Jen's eye's glowed and her jaw clenched. "Fury, you son of a bitch."