It's hard not to be shocked; I went from beating up what I thought were common thugs to standing in the doorway of one of the most influential men in New York. Fisk looks me up and down, before turning and walking back into the room his cane clicking against the hardwood floor he came from. Not sure what to do I follow him in and hear the guards slowly close the door behind us.

The room was the definition of lavish, a huge penthouse suite, couches and chairs surrounding a massive television screen. I can see a kitchen four times the size of my hotel room with expensive looking appliances.

Fisk walks over to a desk and sits on a plush armchair, swiveling around to face me. "Why are you here?" His voice carries around the room, reverberating against every surface. My hands aren't bound, and his guards aren't here. He may be politically powerful but he is just one fat man. I can knock him out loot this place and climb down the side of the building. Probably. Wilson Fisk is no idiot, he probably knows from his men what I'm capable of, and in fact it's probably what he expects. I'll play it safer, maybe I can talk my way out of this.

"Why don't you tell me?" I do my best to keep the fear from my stance as I stand strong and keep my limbs from trembling.

He sighs standing up from his chair, "Don't try to make a fool of Wilson Fisk. You know why you are here. Say it."

Is this a trick question, I'm here because he brought me here aren't I? Does he want more from me, something more specific maybe? He's standing in front of me now, towering over me at his full height. "I'm here because I stole from you?" My sixth sense flares but before I can take a step back I'm already flying across the room. I land over in the kitchen area with a huge pain in my gut. How did he move that fast? "You're faster than you look."

He chuckles, "While this body may not match the societal image of physical fitness my body is conditioned for strength and endurance. My strength is nearly superhuman; you should be dead, or at least unconscious. I guess my boys weren't lying about you." I struggle and am able to get back to my feet as he approaches the kitchen. "I am one of the richest men in this city. You can keep the change you won from my subordinates, I didn't bring you here for petty revenge I'm a businessman. Now tell me, why are you here?"

He's within arms reach now, I'm watching him closely now that I know that my danger sense isn't enough warning with his unnatural speed. He said he's a businessman is that some sort of clue? He knows I have special abilities, maybe wants to use me. "I'm here because you need me for something right, a job?"

He chuckles again, "Want not need, do not make the mistake of forgetting your place. Come." He goes and sits down on one of the couches facing the TV, gesturing for me to sit. I shuffle to the farthest armchair I possibly can from him within the area, still holding my bruised side. The monitor clicks on showing the layout of a building. "This is the New York police department's up town station." He presses a button and it zooms in on a specific room on the top floor. "This is the office of the police Captain." After another press the screen rotates and I'm looking at what I assume is the 3D rendering of the office. "You are going to break in to this office and retrieve a set of files for me."

It's definitely possible, but "I'm not interested." I'm not trying to go to jail to make a quick buck.

"Not even any demands? I'm a very wealthy man you know." He sighs, "Very well then, while the reward should be enough motivation some require more than a carrot in front, if you don't do this, I will destroy you, Peter Parker." How did he? His laughter fills the room, "Haha! Did you really think I would let you in here without knowing who you are? I may not know what you are yet, but believe me that your cheap 'mask' isn't doing you any favors."

Fuck, I throw my hood back and rip the head off of my suit, glaring Fisk in the eyes. "I don't have a choice in this do I?"

"No you don't. But that doesn't mean you need to feel trapped. If you complete this job then you work for me." He gestures to himself, "And I take care of my own. You need a place to live, I can provide, you need food, I can provide, you need supplies, a suit, transportation, technology! I can provide. If you do this for me you will be my personal asset."

I look back at the monitor screen. "What exactly do you need me to get?"

He presses another button on his controller and the room rotates to face the desk, the bottom right drawer opens and a manila folder flies out to face the screen. The file says 'CONFIDENTIAL Case F'. I paid more attention to the layout of the room this time. The huge window on the east wall would make this fast but definitely messy. "I need that folder, and I need it in the next two weeks. You don't need to know what's in it, and if possible I'd like for them not to know what your goal was."

I think with my hand on my chin for a second. This could be difficult, probably a god chance that it won't be as easy as he's making it seem. "Can I bring help and what if I get caught?" If I go in through the front I'll have to get through three floors of cops just to get to the room.

"I can't be affiliated with this, if you get caught there is no rescue party, and don't even try reporting me, no one will believe that I had anything to do with this. As far as help I don't' care. Bring an army if you want, just make sure it get's done. Hopefully by the time they've figured out what was taken I'll have everything I need."

Doable, especially if I can convince Kitty to help, although I'd rather not involve her in this. I'll save it for a last resort. "I'll need a better mask."

He smiles and stands and holds out his right hand. Warily I stand and take a few steps towards him watching his hand warily. When I reach out to shake his hand his gigantic fist squeezes mine with more strength than I thought humanly possible. I grit my teeth and squeeze as hard as him. I can see the surprise on his face. "I'll have an acceptable mask and garb delivered by Tuesday, any preferences?"

I release his hand and think for a second, trying to discretely massage my aching fist. "how about spiders?"

Besides being tired I went through school the next day the same is usual. Finally wearing normal clothes to school I could feel less eyes on me as I blend it. Bobby was absent for English making it actually enjoyable and even with the growing bruise on my stomach P.E. was a breeze.

When I get to math I see Kitty, she smiles at me and sits down. "Oh my god Peter you'll never guess what I found out."

She looks so exited I can't help but be a bit curious. "Did you figure out your 'situation'?"

Her smile gets even wider; "Yeah actually Bobby helped me with it."

I almost jump out of my desk, "You told Bobby! Did you tell him about me? How do you know we can trust him?" What the hell is wrong with her you can't just tell everybody about this stuff.

She waves me off, "'We' can trust him? I didn't realize that my 'abilities' were your responsibility. But no I didn't tell him about you, he already knew. Either way I know we can trust him because he's like us. You should meet him."

Like us? "When you say like us you mean,"

"Yup, he's a mutant too! He says he's a part of a whole group of mutants who help each other out. He says he came here to help us." I don't like the sound of this. Happy dopey Robert Drake is actually the chosen representative of a new age mutant organization. I don't know how he knew about us either. Are we the only reason he's at school? "He want's me to go with him back to their institute, I told him to give me time to think about it. I wanted to talk to you about it first. With the way our families are….. well I just thought maybe we could get a fresh start. Together."

I can't say it isn't an appealing thought, an organization of mutants to back me up, maybe they could even protect me from Fisk. But I've never needed anyone's protection before and this situation is questionable at best. With the way Kitty is looking at me I can tell that she will go with whatever I choose. If it were just me I would tell Bobby to fuck off, but now I have to think about what's best for her too. I need more information. "I need to talk to Bobby."

After class Kitty got a text from Bobby that he had something he had to do but would meet with me after school. Kitty had to be home early so I told her to give Bobby directions to the junkyard so he can meet me there.

After class we walk to the cafeteria and sit across from each other at my usual table. Kitty is telling me about this miracle chemical fluid being developed by Oscorp. "Yeah they call it living metal. I think they plan on using it for airplanes or something."

As I'm about to respond I notice Gwen walk up to our table from behind Kitty. "Mind if I sit with you guys?" I shake my head no and she takes the seat next to Kitty before holding out her hand, "Hi your Katherine right? I'm Gwen Stacey I remember you from the extra credit game on Friday but I don't believe we met."

Kitty returns the greeting, "Katherine Pryde. Nice to meet you. Have you been reading about some of the breakthroughs they've made at Oscorp?"

Gwen nods enthusiastically, "Yeah, I'm actually really interested in a lot of their programs, I actually just got accepted for an internship program there."

Kitty's eyes almost bug out of her head, "Oh my god that's awesome!" I look at the two of them animatedly talking only butting in every now and then to offer a personal opinion. This is what it's like to have friends. It's hard not to smile; I'm enjoying this. I think that this life style is something that I want to protect. If anyone messes with Kitty, or Gwen to a lesser extent; I would definitely protect my friends. I'm going to protect this life style.

After lunch I manage to sit far away from Mary Jane and Bobby is a no show so I actually get some sleep.

During Chemistry we have the test so not much happened. It's not too difficult so I finish early and start heading over to the junk yard to meet with Bobby.

When I get there I can see that Bobby is already there, going through his phone, when he notices me he puts the phone in his pocket and jumps to his feet, holding out a hand for me, "Hey Peter! Glad you could make it." I ignore his hand and walk past him to sit on my favorite car hood. I can hear him mutter "Friendly" under his breath.

"Kitty gave me the abridged version. Show me what you can do, and then tell me why you're here."

He smirks, holding out his hand towards a pile of junk. "Check this out." A blue burst of frost comes out of his hand leaving the surface of the junk covered in a layer of solid ice.

I walk over to it and touch it myself feeling the ice. "Ok, now talk."

He looks disappointed, maybe he thought I would be impressed, as if. "Right well first of all you know what a mutant is right?"

I think everyone knows what a mutation is, I'm just gonna assume he's referring to human mutation. "I've heard some speculation, but nothing concrete." There have been more and more cases of bizarre circumstances popping up.

"We're more than speculation, there is a recursive gene called the mutant X gene that has been growing more prevalent since the forties. People with abilities like Katherine and I. There is a wise and powerful mutant that is trying to gather us all together, he believes that the humans won't accept us when this information reaches the general public. Regardless of whether that actually happens we should all stick together and have a unified message for when people do come to us."

I cross my arms in speculation. Given what I've seen I'm in no position to doubt him but there is still one thing bothering me. "You still haven't said how you found me."

"Professor Xavier, the powerful mutant I mentioned earlier is a psychic. He built a machine that lets him sense all the mutants in the country, he's working on improving it so we can recruit internationally." He gestures with his arms as he talks.

"Then how did he find me? You seem to know I have abilities, but I am not a mutant. I got my powers in another way." Something about his wording bothers me too, "also why do you keep saying recruit? You want us to come with you but where and to do what?"

He sighs and takes a seat. "He actually didn't notice you until I got close. I came to find Katherine but when I walked past you in the hall the Professor sensed you were different from the humans through me. The professor has a school, 'Xavier's school for gifted youngsters.' He's taking in any mutant that wants sanctuary including you, but…." There's always a but. "There are a few of us who want to help others. If you're wiling we're assembling a team, a group of people that go around helping others with our abilities. If you aren't interested we still extend our protection to You and Katherine. You won't find any place safer."

I thought so; I scoff and stand up slinging my bag over my shoulder. "I don't need your protection."

"Peter wait!" He reaches to put his hand on my shoulder but before he can; I grab his wrist and throw him over my shoulder. He lands in a heap in front of me. "You realize that Katherine is looking to you for guidance right? You have to think about what's best for her too! Can you protect her?"

I take off my bag and throw it back onto the car hood. "I will, Kitty is my friend and I'll protect her. This is my life now! No one else will tell me what to do!"

"Fine then. Bobby gets to his feet, fists balled. "If you think that you can protect the two of you than prove it!" I take a step as the sclera and pupils of his eyes turn radiant blue to match his cornea. His fists cover themselves in a layer of frost. "If you can beat me than I'll admit that you're right and leave you alone. If not you at least convince Katherine to come with us as you can't protect her."

He's trying to take my friend away, my new life away. I will protect it. I raise my fists, the look in my eyes enough of an answer. "If I win I don't care what you admit. I want you gone." He nods his head and I smirk. "Don't expect me to hold back."