TW: Yep.

Ellie Bishop: Yep, it could have gone worse. It's not that Ross is any different; it's just that the ripples of the Avengers not splitting up forced Ross into a new direction. Yeah, a man who can put his own daughter in danger without remorse is someone who will sink to any low to accomplish his goals.

Kylo Ren: Sure is.

Traveling Guest: No spoilers. Let's just say Ross's plan will not go how he expects. Ross, like most people in power, refuses to believe he can't control the situation.

Guest: Glad to hear it. Thanks for reading.

Stacy Apartment

Morning

In the guest room, Peter tossed and turned in the bed, his mind tormented by memories of the past.

Peter was on a field trip with his class, at the science lab of NYU. Peter, along with the rest of the class, was watching as their tour guide explained the presentation about the spiders being genetically enhanced. So entranced by this, Peter didn't notice a spider had crawled up his shirt and onto his neck until it bit him.

A few days later, Peter was in line for lunch, carrying his tray of food, looking for a place to eat when he was suddenly tripped. His tray of food went up into the air and Peter would later describe it as an out of body experience. Peter grabbed the tray and the entire student body watched in stunned disbelief as he moved it from side to side, catching every item that had been thrown into the air without spilling anything. Peter then stared down at the tray in shock, wondering what was happening to him.

Over the next several weeks, Peter would head to an abandoned warehouse after school, practicing using his new abilities. In addition to his reflexes, he discovered he could stick to walls, any bruises he got during training or from bullies healed within hours, he seemed to possess a sixth sense for danger, and he was strong. Like Captain America strong.

Peter was sitting in the car with his Uncle Ben, who was dropping him off at school.

"Now Peter, I know you're probably going through a lot of changes," Ben started.

"Yeah…you could say that," Peter said awkwardly, hoping this wasn't the sex talk and Ben chuckled.

"I know, it's uncomfortable and you really don't want to talk about it with me. But Peter, it's not important what changes you're going through. It's important what kind of person those changes turn you into. There's an old saying in our family: with great power comes great responsibility. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?" Ben asked.

"Not really," Peter admitted and Ben chuckled.

"Well, you will one day."

One day, on his way to the warehouse, Peter was passing through an alley when he heard a whistle.

"Hey! Stop that guy!"

Peter looked at the side, seeing some cops chasing a man down the street. The three ran right passed Peter without noticing him. Peter stared after the trio for a moment before shrugging, going on his way.

Later that night, Peter made his way home. Opening the door to the apartment he shared with his aunt and uncle, Peter entered and, as he closed the door, heard a sniffle. Turning his head towards the source, Peter saw May crying at the kitchen table.

"Aunt May? What's wrong?" Peter asked concerned as he headed over to her and she took a deep breath, wiping her tears before speaking.

"Peter…it's about your Uncle Ben…"

Later that night, Peter sat in his room, in a state of shock. Shock that quickly turned into rage. Getting up, he opened his window and crawled out, unseen in the night sky.

"Attention all units! The suspect we believe to have murdered Ben Parker is in a warehouse on Benjamin and Jefferson!"

As police got the call over the radio and began driving off, unaware of Peter listening, crouched down behind the car.

The police had the warehouse surrounded as, under the cover of darkness; Peter crawled up the side of the warehouse, entering through one of the windows.

Inside, the man who had killed Ben was holding a gun, looking around wildly when he heard someone behind him. Whirling around, the man fired but Peter jumped into the air, performing a summersault before tackling the man. Managing to disarm the man, Peter then tossed him across the floor. The man groaned in pain as he hit a wall, hard. Enraged, Peter stormed over and grabbed the man by the shirt, lifting him up and slamming him against the window.

It was then, with the light of the chopper outside, that Peter could finally see the man's face and Peter froze. It was the man who the cops had been chasing earlier that day. He was the man who killed Uncle Ben.

"People! Please don't hurt me!" the man cried and Peter's shock gave way to rage.

"The way you hurt the man you shot tonight?" Peter asked coldly and the man closed his eyes, as if anticipating his fate.

It would be so easy for Peter to reach up and take his revenge. To take from him what this man had taken from Uncle Ben. But he didn't. For he finally understood what Uncle Ben had been trying to tell him. Just because he could do that doesn't mean he should.

So instead, he punched the man hard enough to knock him out. Peter dropped the man to the ground, staring at him for a moment before his Spider-Sense went off and he turned, running up the wall. He crawled through a window a moment before the doors burst open and police swarmed the warehouse. Peter made his escape as the police stared at the unconscious man, wondering what had happened.

Peter opened his eyes, his foggy mind not really understanding where he was as he awoke from the painful memories. Then, he remembered every. Vulture, getting shot, the Stacys helping him.

Sitting up, he winced slightly at the wound in his side, although the pain had been reduced largely from what it was yesterday. Reaching over, he picked up the mask he had taken off before going to sleep off the night stand before putting it on. Last thing he wanted was one of the Stacys walking in and seeing him without his mask.

Unnoticed by Peter, the door was slightly cracked, enough for Gwen to see him put his mask on, staring in disbelief.

She hadn't meant to snoop; she hadn't even meant to be up. She'd been on her way to the bathroom when she'd heard Spider-Man crying out. She'd opened the door in time to see him sit up.

Spider-Man…was the kid who she had seen on the street. She backed away from the door, realizing that he hadn't saved her life from Marko twice, but three times.

Avengers Compound

Later that morning

"So Toomes isn't in prison?" Sam asked in disbelief as Natasha recounted her visit to the prison.

"According to the warden, he was transferred to a maximum security prison a week ago," Natasha said, her tone saying she believed that as much as them. "But I managed to get in touch with his wife; she didn't know anything about it."

"So Toomes disappears from prison a week before someone wearing an improved version of his suit attacks Peter? I somehow doubt it's a coincidence," Tony scoffed.

"Knowing Ross, it probably isn't," Bruce said grimly.

"You think Ross is behind this?" Steve asked.

"Don't you? From what you've told me about Peter, he'd be someone Ross would target. And Toomes would have the skills needed to pilot that suit if it was based on his own," Bruce pointed.

"And Ross would have the pull to cover up Toomes's disappearance, same way he had the Chief of Police call a manhunt for Peter," Rhodey pointed out and Steve nodded.

"You're right, and it fits Ross's MO. Ross is getting more dangerous, growing bolder," Steve said uneasily.

"Making his own Avengers," Natasha added and Steve didn't disagree.

"Let's just hope Fury gets back with some Intel we can use to take down Ross. Have a feeling we're running out of time," Tony noted, unable to shake the sense of unease that had come over him.

Stacy's Apartment

Not long after

"Incredible," Helen said in amazement as she examined Peter's stiches. "Compared to yesterday, these looks weeks old."

"Yeah, I heal fast," Peter said awkwardly and she nodded.

"It seems like it. I'd like you to come back tomorrow night so I can take them out, but you should be fine," Helen said as she stood up.

Helen then walked out of the room to put her surgical tools away, not noticing Gwen standing outside the room. Gwen debated with herself for a few moments before finally heading into the room.

"Oh, hi," Peter said as he saw her. "Gwen, right?"

"Yeah. Figured you'd know that, since we already met. Twice," Gwen pointed out.

"Well, we never did stop to talk during those times," Peter pointed out and she nodded.

"No, we didn't," Gwen said and there was a pause. "Thank you for saving my life."

"You never need to thank me. It's kind of what I do," Peter said and she chuckled.

"Yeah. I guess so…who's Ben?" Gwen blurted out before she could stop herself, wincing as Peter tensed. "Sorry, that's none of my business."

"Where'd you hear that name?" Peter asked seriously, his heart racing.

"Earlier today, I was heading to the bathroom when I heard you talking. I guess you were asleep, you kept saying 'Ben' over and over again," Gwen said and there was silence for a moment. "You don't have to answer. Like I said, it's none of my business."

"Ben…was my uncle. He died about four months ago," Peter finally said and Gwen felt like kicking herself.

"I'm sorry. I can't imagine," Gwen said, realizing Spider-Man had obviously been very close to his uncle.

Was this why he was a vigilante? To save people they way he couldn't save his uncle?

"It's all right, you didn't know," Peter said before Helen walked back in, carrying Peter's Spider-Man suit.

"I cleaned it the best we could, but like you said, it's hard to get blood stains out," Helen said as she handed Peter his suit.

"Thanks anyway. I really need to go," Peter said as he checked the time, realizing he was going to be late for school. "And thanks, for saving my life again."

"Like I told you yesterday, you saved my daughter's life. And if the law is telling me to turn you in because of that, then the law is wrong," Helen said, hardly believing it had gotten to a point where she could say the words and believe them.

Peter nodded silently as he looked down at his suit. He'd always been outside the law, but this time it felt different. This time, the law was actively going after him. But he couldn't stop.

With great power comes great responsibility. He would never forget that lesson.

Barton Farm

Afternoon

It was lunch time and things were going as they normally did. Lila did most of the talking, occasionally Wanda and Laura would chime in in regards to a question Lila would ask while Clint and Cooper were merely happy to watch. Nate would happily babble during the entire meal as the rest of them ate, Laura feeding Nate his own food.

The tranquil atmosphere was broken by the sound of someone knocking on the front door and they all froze. They didn't get visitors, ever. The kids, for obvious reasons, never invited friends over.

"Do either of us have a package coming today?" Clint asked as he looked over at Laura, who shook her head. "Wanda, do you sense anything?"

"It's a postal worker. He's getting back in his truck and leaving. He put a package on the front porch. He thinks it was pretty heavy," Wanda noted after briefly scanning the man's mind.

Not long after, Laura opened the door, Clint and Wanda right behind her. On the front porch was a package, a box about the size of a briefcase.

"It's addressed to me," Laura said as she checked it.

"Does it say who it's from?" Clint asked and Laura shook her head.

Before the conversation could continue, Clint's phone went off. He pulled it out of his pocket and checked the caller ID, frowning when he saw it was his brother, Barney.

"Barney?" Clint asked in answer.

"Clint, you need to run," Barney said and Clint was immediately put on edge by the urgent tone of Barney's voice.

"Bro, what's going on?" Clint demanded.

"I have friends on the Raft; they say Ross knows where you are. He knows about Laura and the kids," Barney said rushed and Clint paled. "Ross has sent Rumlow and a team after you and Maximoff. They have orders to take Laura and the kids too. They're coming for you, Clint. Run."

Clint hung up his phone, looking towards the package. But Wanda was apparently a step ahead of him.

Wanda used her powers to send him and Laura flying back, out of the line of fire before creating a barrier around the package. But it was too late.

Before Wanda could get the barrier fully around the package, it went off, emitting a blast of invisible energy, shattering the barrier and hitting Wanda full force. Copper and Lila, who had run from the kitchen when they heard their parents hit the floor, watched with their parents as Wanda was sent sailing through the air before hitting the wall and falling to the floor, out cold.

"Wanda!" Clint jumped to his feet and rushing over, checking Wanda for any injuries. "Wanda, can you hear me? Wanda?!"

Wanda remained unresponsive and Clint stared at the package, realizing it had done something to Wanda. But now wasn't the time to figure it out.

"Dad, is she all right?" Lila asked as Clint picked Wanda up in his arms, bridal style.

"I don't know," Clint answered honestly.

"Clint, what's going on?" Laura asked, pulling her son and daughter to her fearfully.

"Ross knows where we are. He's sending people after us, all of us," Clint said and Laura paled, realizing what he meant. "That thing was meant to take us out, knock us unconscious but Wanda got in the way, took the full blast, and probably contained its power a bit, which is why we're not all unconscious."

"What do we do?" Laura asked her mind racing.

"We don't have much time, not enough to run. Laura, take the kids and Wanda into the basement," Clint said as he walked over to his wife, handing the unconscious Wanda to her. "It's the only place they won't look for you guys."

"Dad, what are you going to do?" Copper demanded and Clint looked down at his son with a grim look.

"What a man is supposed to do: protect his family."

Avengers Compound

Same time

"Ross just keeps causing more problems for us, doesn't he?" Natasha said dryly as she and Steve stood in Steve's office.

"I just wish I knew what his plan was. Ross is building towards something. The Accords, Sandman, Toomes, it's all part of something. I just wish I knew what," Steve said in frustration.

Natasha opened her mouth to speak but, before she could get a word out, her phone rang. Shooting Steve an apologetic look, she pulled it out, frowning when she saw who it was.

"I'm hoping you have something on Ross," Natasha said as she answered.

"I wish. Ross is sending Rumlow and a team of his own men after Barton and Maximoff," Fury said and Natasha froze. "He figured out where they are, he knows about Barton's family. I'm heading there now, I'll keep you posted but I have to go. We don't have a lot of time."

Barton Farm

Not long after

Rumlow led the group of soldiers into the house, all of them seeing the package on the porch but no one saw any sign of Barton, Maximoff or anyone else.

"Spread out and search. Car's still here, so they can't have gotten far," Rumlow ordered.

The men Ross had given him command of did as he ordered, spreading out and searching for the house. Rumlow almost chuckled, they followed orders well. Back in the day, he admired that in the SHIELD operatives he worked with.

But that was then, when he was Hydra. Now he only had one objective: making the Avengers pay.

Down the hall, one of Rumlow's men was walking, scanning the rooms when an arrow sailed through the air, hitting him in the jugular. The man gasped before dropping his gun and falling to the floor, dead.

Rumlow had entered the living room, pausing as he saw a picture in the mantle. It was off Barton with who were clearly his wife and kids. Rumlow tightened his hand into a fist, filled with rage.

Soon, soon Barton would suffer.

Elsewhere, another of Rumlow's men was nearing the stairs that led into the basement when Clint fired another arrow, getting the men in the chest. The man gasped before falling down, the gun falling from his hands as he stared without seeing.

"Sir, we have a problem," Rumlow was startled by the communication from one of his men over the Comms. "We've found one of our men killed with an arrow to his neck."

"Only one person I know who uses arrows as weapons. Barton is here, and he's awake," Rumlow realized.

Barely had the words left Rumlow's lips when, by the body of the dead man, an arrow landed at the feet of the surviving agents. They all looked at it startled before it went off in a flash of light. The agents all cried out, blinded by the light and that was when Clint struck.

Rushing in, Clint fired an arrow, getting one in the chest before Clint whirled around, pulling out a knife and stabbing it into the throat of another. Pulling the knife out, Clint watching as blood gushed from the man's neck and he fell to the floor, bleeding out. Clint then whirled around, firing an arrow at another of the men, getting him in the throat before stabbing the knife into the eye of another of the soldiers. The last remaining soldier attempted to fight back, firing in an attempt to get Clint in spite of his blindness but Clint jumped out of the way, firing an arrow that got the man in the chest, killing him instantly.

Clint paused as the man fell to the floor, dead and the hallway was silent for a moment. Then, sensing movement behind him, Clint rolled out of the way, dodging a strike from Rumlow, who had attempted to strike him with his Gauntlet, nearly identical to the one he had used against Steve and Sam.

"I have been waiting for this!" Rumlow snarled as he rushed Clint only for Clint to roll out of the way.

"I'm sure you have. Not a lot of else to do on The Raft, right?" Clint quipped before firing another arrow.

Rumlow caught it and was about to hurl it back at Clint only for the arrow to explode, sending Rumlow flying back. He went through a wall and into the kitchen, flying over the table where, less than half an hour ago, Clint, Wanda and his family had been having lunch, before finally landing on the counter.

Rumlow was pulling himself up as Clint walked in, an arrow in his bow and aimed at Rumlow.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't put this arrow in your chest," Clint said his voice ice cold.

Before either of them could respond, a tranq dart hit Rumlow in the neck. Rumlow pulled it out before swaying on his feet and falling to the floor, out cold. Surprised, Clint turned his head to see Fury standing in the doorway of the kitchen, lowering his gun.

"Because, we might need him," Fury said in answer to Clint's question.

Couldn't resist giving a classical origin story for Peter (still niffs me that to this day, we know nothing about how Peter got his powers outside him getting bitten by a spider). Ben would be played by Tobey Maguire.

Hope the fight scenes were okay.