Quiet

Peter cheered as he began falling to the ground. The concrete was rising to meet him, and he threw his hand out at the last minute, swinging upwards. New York always looked the best like this. Crime was unusually low currently and he savoured the moments he could spend soaring above the city. He could make out the people on the streets below, some of them squinting up at him and waving. They covered the pavements like a sea of multicoloured ants, never slowing or stopping.

“Peter, you have an incoming call from Mr. Stark,” Karen's voice sounded through his mask.

“Oh cool, let him through, thanks Karen,” Peter grinned. “Hey Mr. Stark, what’s up?”

Tony began to speak, raising his voice to be heard over the music blasting in the background. “How’s it going kid? Hold on- FRIDAY, turn that down, thanks.”

“It’s good,” Peter landed on the roof of an apartment complex and looked around. “It’s actually been pretty quiet- no that I’m complaining, but, yeah.” He heard the older man sigh and frowned. “Is something wrong?”

“I was going to wait until you got back to tell you, but I think it's best you know now, just in case. We’ve been getting an increasing amount of reports about attacks all over the country. At first we thought it was just regular crime, but FRIDAY’s scanned the security footage from each one and now we think it’s something else.” Peter sucked in a breath, which Tony heard and knew what it meant. “No, no. Until we know who these guys are and how dangerous they can be, I don’t want you getting involved. That's why I wanted you to now, I want you to stay safe."

“But-”

“No buts,” Tony cut him off firmly. “Don’t get me wrong, this is in no way me doubting your abilities. Trust me kid, I know you’ll probably be able to handle them. But there’s always the chance that you won’t, so until we know more I want you to promise me you’ll just continue being the friendly neighbourhood spider-man, okay?” he paused, waiting for a response. “Promise me kid, I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Peter sighed. “Yeah, okay, I promise."

"Great," his mentor cleared his throat. "Well, I suppose I should let you get back to your spider activities, don't be late tonight, Cap's making pasta." If someone had told Peter two years ago this was how his life was going to play out, living in the Avengers Tower with the real-life Avengers, he would've laughed and then asked if they needed medical attention. As it was, he felt unbelievably lucky to have them as a family.

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, Peter returned to the conversation. "Is that a good idea?" he pulled a face. The last time Steve had tried making them a meal it had gone less than great. He was pretty sure there was still a stain on the ceiling from that night, though how the sauce ended up there was a mystery.

"Apparently he's been learning," Tony sounded unsure. "Well, if it all goes tits-up we can just order takeaway again. Don't tell him I said that. Anyways, I'll let you get back to your patrol, have fun kid."

"Thanks Mr. Stark!"

"For the last time, call me To-" Karen ended the call and Peter laughed. He scanned the area around him, waiting to see if anything would happen. Nothing.

"Karen, do you think you could find me some of that footage Mr. Stark was talking about?" He couldn't help but feel slightly put out by what he'd been told. A series of organised attacks, all over the country, big enough to get the attention of the Avengers. Something was clearly going down, and he wanted to help.

"Here's what I could find," Karen sounded. "However Peter, I'm programmed to keep you safe, so I will have to notify Mr. Stark if you try to find these people, as part of the Baby Monitor Protocol." she pulled up several videos into his line of sight.

"I hate that protocol," Peter mumbled as the recordings started playing. They showed a group of men, four or five. Their movements were fluid- they would stop their van next to a person walking alone at night, snatch them off the street and driving away within the minute. What really caught Peter's eye was the weapons they used. They didn't have any guns on them as far as he could tell, but had something that he assumed was a high grade taser.

"Karen, zoom in on their hands and replay." he watched closely as it played again. "What is that? Do you have anything with better quality?" Karen was silent for a moment before showing him a single video. She focused on their hands once more, and Peter could just make out what they were using. It looked like a thick dark ring, and he noticed all the men were wearing them. A blue light sat in the centre, glowing brightly, and he noted how they touched them to the person's neck before carrying them away.

"I swear I've seen something like that before," he murmured. "Karen, you record all of my patrols right?"

Karen made a noise of confirmation. "Yes Peter, that is the main objective of the Baby Monitor Protocol." she sounded amused.

"Ugh, okay. Maybe it can useful sometimes. Maybe. And you better not let Mr. Stark know I said that because I'll never hear the end of it." he shook his head. "Anyways. I can't tell what those things are, but I think I saw them once on a patrol, in a bank? Or an ATM place? I can't remember how long ago but you know what I mean,"

"I do," Karen began searching through the archived videos and Peter watched as they scrolled past. There were more than he was expecting, either he'd spent more time out as Spider-Man than usual or it was further back than he realised.

"Okay, I think it's around here," the footage slowed and he began scanning the images. "There! Those guys there." the video paused and Karen focused on the men in the bank. They looked similar to the ones in the footage across the country. He wasn't sure if they were the same people, but both groups were dressed in all black and sporting the dark rings.

"Do you think I should tell Mr. Stark about this?" he took the two clips and put them side by side in comparison. "I'm not getting involved or anything, so he can't get mad, but maybe it could help."

Karen made another noise. "I don't think it would hurt. In this type of situation it's always best to know as much about the opposition as possible before making a move. I'll send them to Mr. Stark now, would you like to add a message?"

Peter thought for a second. "Uh, yeah, just put 'This isn't me getting involved but it might be helpful' and a smiley face." he watched as the message typed out. "Oh, and also tell him I'm on my way back now, it doesn't look like there's much more for me to do out here." He turned and took a running leap in the direction of the tower, closing his eyes as he fell before snapping them open on the upswing. The sky had been steadily darkening for an hour, and the nightlife of New York was in full swing. Music from bars and clubs mixed together into a low hum, and flashes of light passed below him. He could just see the tower in the distance when the base of his neck began buzzing. He could hear someone screaming now, shouting for help, and he increased his speed. He landed at the entrance of an alleyway and caught sight of two men with knives advancing on a young woman.

"Hey guys, maybe don't do that? Just a suggestion," he ran towards them and caught the first man's hand with his web. The second lunged at him with the knife, and he gasped when he felt it catch his side. He pulled his hand forward and used the momentum to knee the first man in the face. Once he was sure he was down and webbed to the pavement, he turned to the second, who was crouched in a fighting position. The woman backed against a wall, holding her hands close to her chest.

"Listen, it's been a long day, we're all tired. Why don't you put down the knife?" the man took a step forward and Peter sighed. "Or, alternatively, you could try and stab me again. Which," he leapt on to the wall behind him as the man ran towards him. "was totally not cool. Now I'll have to explain to Mr. Stark why there's a hole in my suit. Also, you stabbed me. Again, not cool."

The man took a step back and looked up at him. "You talk too much, you know that?" he shook his head and muttered under his breath. "No doubt Ivor can change that."

"Ivor?" Peter shot a web and pulled the knife from the man's hand. He pushed his feet away from the wall and caught him in a flying kick, sending him to the floor. "Not sure I know who that is, sorry man."

"Oh, you will," the man spat at him from his position. Peter quickly webbed his arms and legs together, and the man gave him a twisted smile. "Who do you think is behind all these attacks recently? And who do you think they were for?" he paused as he caught his breath. "We know who you are, Peter."

Peter's breath caught in his throat. He stared a the man in front of him, thankful that his mask was hiding his face. Panic was starting to rise, and the edges of his vision blurred slightly. The man was still watching him, so he forced out a shaky laugh. "I hate to tell you this but, my name isn't Peter. So, uh, I don't know who you're trying to find."

"Don't try and fool me boy, we've been watching you for a long time. You really think after months of research and planning we'd get it wrong now?"

"Listen," Peter backed away from him, trying to keep his voice even. "You've got the wrong person. My name isn't Peter! It's, um-"

"Nice try," the man had managed to sit up, and continued to fix Peter with an unnerving look. "You should be grateful, you're going to help us in ways you won't understand, but the results of your work will help billions of people. In fact-"

Peter shot his hand out and webbed the man's mouth shut. He didn't want to hear anything else he had to say. A noise form behind him made him turn around, arms raised to fight, but the woman from before had stood up and slowly making her way towards him. Her eyes were wide and she clutched her bag tightly.

"Thank you," she breathed. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't turned up. You really are a hero," she took another step forward and her face changed. Peter's spider-sense flared, but when he scanned the surrounding he shook it off as remaining nerves. The woman came closer, and Peter noticed she no longer looked scared as she let out a small laugh. "Thank you Peter, this had been a wonderful experience. For me at least," she glanced at his side and tutted. "That looks painful."

The adrenaline from the fight was wearing off, and the pain in his side doubled. He gasped and looked down. The suit was torn, and through the fabric he could make out a wide gash, the skin around it an angry red. Blood was steadily running down his side, and he noticed that the alleyway was covered in trails of it, scattered from where he'd been fighting. His head span and he stumbled backwards as vision swam and white spots erupted in his periphery. "Karen," he slurred. "Send a distress signal to Mr. Stark."

"Already on it," the woman was still advancing on him, and he attempted to shoot a web at her, but his arms were growing heavy and refused to cooperate. He turned to try and run but his foot caught on a wedge of pavement and he crashed to the ground. The pounding in his head grew and he groaned.

"Don't worry," he woman cooed as she stood over him. "You'll be out soon, and the pain will be gone." she knelt next to his head and began lifting his mask. Peter let out a panicked breath and tried desperately to move away, but the woman held him down with ease. Cool air hit his face and he screwed his eyes shut. He could hear the woman standing up and her heels clicked as she circled him. The sound of an engine whirred in the distance, and Peter felt relief flood through him. Mr. Stark was almost here, everything would be okay. The noise grew louder, and he squinted towards the alleyway entrance to see a van pull up. Men ran out, dressed all in black, and he vaguely registered the familiar rings they were wearing. Before he had time to properly process this, they had surrounded him and brought their hands down on his body. His legs shuddered and his muscles locked, as something similar to electricity passed through him. His vision darkened and he went slack, the last thing he saw before falling unconscious were the men lifting him, and the woman watching with a triumphant smile on her face.

When he regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was his inability to move, followed quickly by the feeling of a cold piece of metal wrapped tightly around his mouth. He was strapped to a chair in what he assumed was some kind of lab, the lights were low but he could make out the outline of a workbench in the corner, and some sort of box opposite him. There was a faint smell of chemicals in the air, and if he strained to listen he could just make out the sounds of footsteps somewhere above him. His spider-sense was thrumming steadily, telling him to get out, get out, get out, and he took a breath as he began pushing against his restraints. Nothing happened and he frowned, he was only being held by thin bands of metal, this should be easy. He was so focused on trying to free himself he almost didn't realise there was someone watching him from the shadows, but his head shot up when they moved closer.

"You won't be able to break those, they're vibranium," a low voice spoke. Peter slumped against the chair- he knew the person was right. "Now," their voice caught his attention again and he watched as they stepped into the light. A man in a stained white coat leered at him, running his hands through his greying hair. "Let's get started, shall we?"