Chapter 5
Three weeks later and Peter was feeling like he might have made a mistake.
"I said stick with me, not to me!" Peter hissed as Deadpool latched onto his back as he swung to the far side of the fight.
The Avengers were currently bearing the brunt of the battle up the street.
A lot of things happened in New York, but acid spitting, mobile plants was a new one.
"Excuse you! Did you miss little shop of horrors down there?" Deadpool humphed as he pointed to the street below.
"Excuse you! Did you miss where you're a mercenary with an amazingly fast healing ability and small arsenal strapped to your body?" Peter yelled, flinging the mercenary off and into the gathering plants.
"Betrayal!"
Peter rolled his eyes at Deadpool's cry and watched him expertly roll into the landing and immediately start slicing through the plants.
"Any reason we're hanging towards the back, sweetie?"
"Not in the mood for a direct team up with The Avengers." Peter responded, webbing up several plants for Wade to cut through.
"But you choose to team up with me!" The merc cheered.
"Yeah, I did." Peter chuckled. "So just be ready to bail as soon as things wrap up. I don't want to engage in a group pow-wow."
"But Spider, I was hoping to meet Stars and Stripes!"
"You're welcome to stay DP, but I don't think you'd like the outcome. You're not completely off the "High Level Threat" list yet."
Wade pouted as he finished clearing out their section. From where he was positioned on the wall, Peter noticed The Avengers making their way over as they had finished up on their end.
"Time to go DP. Company is coming."
The merc nodded and hopped on Peter's back.
"By the way, this body's only a high level threat to you baby boy. Now, take me away lover!" Wade cooed in his ear.
A lesser man, Peter proudly noted, would have decked him.
"Keep it in your pants on the field, Wade."
"Oh! So we can have sexy time off the field now? Are we at the point yet? Is this how you and Black Cat got started? Our story begins!"
Peter rolled his eyes and took a running jump to swing away. As soon as he shot the web, a familiar puller blast shot right through it. Peter felt Wade's legs tighten around him as he stumbled his landing.
"Good thing I hadn't got real air." Peter growled.
"Spider-Man."
Peter watched as Iron Man landed in front of the other Avengers.
"Iron Man." Peter returned.
The stoic face plate of Iron Man slid back to reveal the strained face of Tony Stark. The two stared at each other, the atmosphere tense.
"We just wanted to thank you for your help." Steve said, stepping up next to Tony.
Peter nodded. He looked at the other members of the team, his gaze stopping at Bucky. The man looked at him, void of any sign of acknowledgement of their previous encounter. Peter felt a small, surprised tingle of appreciation for the man.
"What are you thinking being with him?"
Peter was drug out of his thoughts by Tony's angry question. He glanced over his shoulder to where Deadpool continued to cling to him like a backpack.
"Last I checked, who I hung out with wasn't any of your business." Peter glared through the mask.
"You do know who he is, right kid?" Sam asked, moving to stand next to Steve. "Just want to make sure."
"Yeah, doesn’t exactly fit your style. He's still pretty high class threat level, even if he has calmed it a good bit. See? I can at least give credit where it's due." Clint rolled his eyes and then grinned.
Tony glared at the archer, who simply raised an eyebrow at him.
"Well, this is getting interesting Spidey-kins." Wade grinned as the other Avengers moved in closer. All looking like they had different opinions of the situation.
"Not helping." Peter hissed.
"Look, as fun as this is," Deadpool started, sliding off Peter's back. "This fine ass spider and I have a date and you're really cutting in to our time. Bye!" Wade called happily, scooping Peter up bridal style and dashing off.
"Now would be a good time to shoot some webs, Webs."
Peter nodded, looking over Wade's shoulder as the stunned Avengers began to regroup. Shifting, Peter raised his wrist and swung the two off through the city.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Matt was right. Being with DP brought attention....quickly."
Peter frowned as he handed Felicia her ice cream cone and sat next to her. He looked out at the people enjoying the sunshine and letting their kids play on the park playground.
"Oh please, you've been in way worse scenarios then that. If you ask me, Iron Ass is the one with the problem. He just can't handle that his precious little baby spider might be corrupted by his beefy hunk of man meat mercenary boyfriend." Felicia rolled her eyes as Peter choked on his ice cream.
"WHAT?"
"Shh, I'm laying down facts." The blonde hushed him with a finger over his mouth. "Very few of The Avengers have room to even remotely judge Deadpool."
"Forget that!" Peter yelled. "Deadpool is not my 'beefy hunk of man meat mercenary boyfriend'!"
Felicia looked at him with a raised eyebrow, daring him to question her further.
"I didn't realize I left that statement open for debate, Parker. I said I was laying down facts, and that was in those facts. It's settled. I have deemed it so. It's my opinion that you need to get your personal life together and my opinion comes only second to May's." Felicia replied confidently, taking a bite off the top of her ice cream.
"I'd argue you more, but I'm to insulted by that attack on your ice cream to do so."
Felicia smirked as she took a slow lick up the side of it.
"Better?" she smirked.
"Now you're just being indecent with it." Peter grinned.
"Whatever." she rolled her eyes. "As I was saying. You need to get your personal life together, Peter. It's either school, work, or late night activities that don't end in bruises of the good kind." Felicia paused with a mischievous smirk. "I mean, tonight could."
Peter swallowed thickly as Felicia ran a bright red finger nail down the center of his chest.
"I thought I was supposed to be getting my personal life together and hooking up with Deadpool?"
"In case you forgot, stealing things is what I do. Now, if you'd be so kind as to offer yourself up to Deadpool, then I can do my thing and steal you back. I'm gonna need you to get with it soon though, waiting isn't one of my strong suits." Felicia purred, pressing in close to his side.
"How does that even work? How can you push me to him, then take me back? Talk about whiplash." Peter humphed, finishing up his cone.
"Oh Spider, I'll take you any time I want. I don't need to wait for you to admit your feelings to crash in and whisk you away. However, you are right. Doing that would go against my entire stance on the creation of my new favorite couple!"
Peter felt a blush rise to his cheeks.
"Where are you even getting this from? Sure, I'll admit DP flirts with me a little-"
"A little?"
"But that doesn't mean anything. He flirts with everyone, even you! I don't encourage him."
Felicia glared at him as he crossed his arm.
"It sure wasn't Matt you took with you yesterday."
"He was at work! Whats that got to do with anything? So what I took Wade with me to the fight? I don't see where it's a big deal."
"Wade now is it?" Felicia smirked. "First name basis with him now? Does he know Peter Parker?"
"Wha..n..no! He just told me his first name when I ran in to him after I had that talk with Bucky." Peter stuttered.
"Mr. Winter Soldier! When did that happen, Parker?"
Peter shrunk back slightly at her tone.
"Three weeks ago?" he shrugged weakly.
"And I'm just finding out about this now?" Felicia's glare increased as she crossed her arms. "I'm just now finding out about this but Deadpool, your 'not boyfriend', found out right after it happened?"
"It wasn't planned out! He found me on a roof having a slight panic attack."
There was a long pause as Felicia took a deep breath, and Peter waited anxiously for her to speak.
"Since I'm such a perfect friend, I'll forgive you as long as your man is the only other person who knows....well, I'll be alright if May knows."
"He's not 'my man', so quit with that, and not even Aunt May knows."
There was another pause.
"You could have went alone you know."
Peter raised an eyebrow, confused at what she meant.
"The fight, Parker. You could have went alone. You've done it plenty of times before. You could have went by yourself but you didn't. You chose to take him with you. You don't do that, Spider. You haven't done that since Matt quit taking you with him."
"The Avengers were gonna be there. I felt better having him there!"
Peter could have punched himself as soon as the words left his mouth. The 'I win' grin working it's way across Felicia's face only cemented his mistake.
"You 'felt better' having him there hu? I was under the impression you handled yourself fine the other times you had to fight alongside them. Maybe Daddy Daredevil needs to know his little sider son needs back up around the big bad Avengers."
"I do not! He was just....I just thought....I..." Peter's eyes darted around, desperate for a distraction from a conversation he was confused about not wanting to have.
So he took Deadpool to a fight? What was the big deal? It did make him feel better about being around The Avengers with him there. Plus, he worked well with Deadpool. They had partnered up several times during Wade's times in the city. They had always made a good team. He liked the easy banter they shared during a fight as well. Lots of people found the merc annoying, but Peter took it in stride since he knew a lot of people found him annoying at times too. If anything, Peter found Wade kind of endearing.
"No! We're just good friends and he was just staying with me like I had....asked him to." Peter felt the panic rise. Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut?
"You asked him to? Like, for the fight? I find it hard to believe that's when you asked him given that pause, sweetheart."
"It's a friendship thing! I asked him after my talk with Bucky! He found me on the roof and helped me calm down. I asked him to hang around despite whatever The Avengers would think because it's my life! I didn't ask for any other reason! Why are you reading more in to it than what's actually there? You are so off base it's unreal!" Peter insisted.
"Just precious." Felicia sighed. "You're right there at the cusp of your feelings. It's so cute! It's ok to admit you, if nothing else, are glad he's decided to hang around more permanently. I don't mind him. I like his personality and so do you. There's nothing wrong with it, Peter. At least admit that."
"Yes. Fine. I'm glad he's staying. It's easy to be around him, even if he does flirt." Peter humphed and crossed his arms.
Felicia smiled, please with herself.
"You're so adorable my little spider. I can't wait to hear how Matt handles you completely disregarding his advice to avoid Deadpool so The Avengers wouldn't track you down."
"He's not gonna be happy." Peter sighed. "Matt doesn't ask much from me."
"I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm in love with the blatant disregard of authority figures. You know, you're still single. We should get together. Tonight preferably. You owe me any way." Felicia smirked as she pressed further in to his side.
Peter looked at her, her low cut shirt catching his eye.
"My eyes are up here, darling."
Peter's face lit up in a blush.
"I'll see you tonight." he managed to get out.
Felicia smiled and stood up from the bench, then leaned over to pull him into a kiss.
"It's a date."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony glared as footage of their last fight played out before him. What was Peter thinking? Associating with a well known mercenary? One who S.H.I.E.L.D had a major grudge against. He also didn't miss the fact that they worked to well together for this to not have been a common thing. How had none of The Avengers caught on to this? There was a list of people they were supposed to look out for and yet somehow, this idiot had slipped right past them! How long?
This was exactly why Peter needed Tony's help and guidance. Deadpool was the last person Spider-Man, with his already dubious relationship with the city, needed to be seen with. If the kid wanted to be taken seriously, joining The Avengers was the perfect choice. Perhaps he could change Peter's mind once he took the internship. They could then repair their relationship and put their past behind them. Spider-Man could leave his vigilante lifestyle and become a publicly acknowledged hero. Daredevil a long forgotten memory.
Daredevil. There was a name Tony never cared if he heard again.Once Spider-Man had been spotted with the devil of Hell's Kitchen, Tony had definitely not been jealous. No, it was just an innocent team-up to stop a drug deal. Surely just a one time thing.
Until it wasn't.
It was months, almost a year before Spider-Man became a mostly solo act again. It was obvious he had received heavy training under the other vigilante. His attacks were more precise than they had ever been and he was clearly trusting his senses more.
No, Tony Stark was definitely not jealous. He was just happy to see Peter on his own again. Confident.
"Gotta say, the kid keeps the oddest company."
Tony shot a look at Rhodey joined him.
"They work well together though. I won't deny he's playing with fire however." The man watched as the footage continued on.
"Exactly why he's making a mistake. I'm sure that idiot hasn't filled Spider-Man in on just how much trouble he's in with S.H.I.E.L.D. Not to mention the damage that will be done to his reputation." Tony glared as he watched Deadpool cut down a webbed plant.
"I don't know why S.H.I.E.L.D even bothers. Not like they can do much to him. You can't exactly keep the guy down. Besides, the kids a vigilante Tones. He's already got a sketchy rep. His recent sighting with Reed Richards has helped it a bit though."
"WHAT?" Tony yelled, jumping up and sending this chair rolling across the lab. "When was this?"
"This morning. He was spotted talking with Richards outside the Fantastic Four headquarters. You'd know this if you left the lab instead of analyzing this, now old, footage." Rhodey raised an eyebrow.
"What was he there for?"
"Don't know. You'd have to ask Reed. Maybe he's about to make them The Fantastic Five." Rhodey smirked as he turned and left the lab.
Daredevil, Black Cat, Deadpool and now The Fantastic Four? Who else thought they had a claim on his Underroos? Spider-Man was an Avenger. That's where he needed to be.
That's where Tony wanted him to be.
He wanted Peter with a real team. A team that would protect him. He didn't care how capable The Four thought themselves to be. The Avengers could do so much better.
Tony wanted to do more.
Did anyone else know as much about the kid's past as he did? He doubted it. Peter hadn't even really wanted to talk to him about it.
Eight years was a long time. Tony could admit that. He could. It didn't stop the hope that Peter would realize he had made a mistake and come back to the team he needed. No one could possibly tell Tony Stark no and stick to it, except maybe Pepper. In Tony's mind it felt like trying to get the rouges back. They had made some mistakes, but everything was good now. It could be with Peter too. His upcoming graduation was the perfect opportunity to bring Peter back into the fold.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Natasha Romanov was not an easily fooled person, and Bucky Barnes didn't fool her one bit. He was hiding something. Something about the elusive Spider-Man
"So, you telling me freely or am I going to have to beat it out of you?"
Bucky raised an eyebrow at her as he turned for the punching bag he was hammering.
"Tell you what?"
"I want to know what you know about Spider-Man." she demanded, crossing her arms.
"What makes you think I know something?" Bucky asked, turning to fully face her.
"You were the only one not to react to finally catching Spider-Man after a fight. You're lack of reaction was the biggest reaction." Natasha glared.
"Sorry to disappoint you Nat, but I don't know anything about him." Bucky shrugged.
"No, but you've talked to him haven't you?"
Bucky blinked at her. He wasn't sure why he was surprised by her question. Of course Black Widow would pick up on the most minuscule thing and piece a puzzle together with it.
"Yeah, I talked to him."
"And you didn't feel like telling anyone? We all know Tony's chomping at the bit to talk to him, and I'm positive Steve and Clint want him on the team as much as Tony. Why hide that you've talked to him?"
"Because it wasn't exactly supposed to happen. I guess in a a way I kind of forced his hand. Not that it matters. I don't have any secrets to share. He didn't spill on what went down with Stark or anything else."
Natasha sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"So you had an impromptu meeting with Spider-Man and have nothing to show for it?"
"Just personal satisfaction that he did talk to me at least. Look, I didn't tell anyone because it was my business and I promised the kid I wouldn't. It's pretty anti-climatic."
The two stood in silence a moment before Natasha spoke.
"I want to meet him. I barely had any interaction with him in Germany. All I got was his alias, then we fought. I want to know why eight years hasn't deterred Tony Stark. He wouldn't have kept after any of us that long." she frowned.
"We weren't right under his nose either." Bucky shrugged. "We went under the radar. The kid's out there all the time. It's like a challenge. If after everything we were able to move past, you don't think Tony thinks he can just get the kid back too?"
"For eight years?"
"It's Tony Stark and clearly the kid told him no and bailed. We don't know how much effort he actually makes because he tries not to let anything slip around us and Pepper keeps him pretty busy. I won't deny he's keeping pushy about the kid now though." Bucky frowned.
"Something has changed." Natasha nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Gotta say, I've missed this." Felicia grinned as the stretched, the sheet slipping down to expose her busty chest. "Went a little rough tonight Spider. Pent up sexual frustration will do that to you. I'm not complaining if you'll deliver a repeat performance though."
"You sure know how to flatter a guy." Peter looked over at her.
"I'm a liberated woman, I have no trouble admitting a good time." she winked at him.
Peter chuckled as he sat up and flung his feet off the bed. He stood, letting the sheet fall off him as he moved to find his discarded clothes.
"If only Deadpool could see that ass like this." She laughed mischievously as she rolled over to look at him.
"Really? Now? I'm naked and we just finished having sex. You want to bring him up now?"
"I just love that cute little blush." She smirked as she stood up and moved behind him, pressing up against him and running her fingers down his toned chest. "Besides, I have to enjoy it while I can still have it."
Peter shivered as she trailed kissed along the back of his neck.
"Keep that up and I'm gonna throw you on the bed for round two."
"Don't threaten me with a good time."
Peter felt the kiss land on the center of his neck, giving him no choice but to make good on his threat. Felicia squealed as she hit the bed, grinning as Peter climbed over her.
"Hang on tight kitty cat."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter laughed nervously at the exasperated expression on Daredevil's face. His good mood from his few rows with Felicia slowly edging away. The two had developed an unspoken agreement about leaving each other before morning to avoid drawing attention to a vigilante or a known thief exiting an apartment through the window. However, the look he was currently getting was killing the buzz.
"Well, you listened about as well as I expected you to." the man sighed.
"Sorry Matt." Peter frowned as he rolled his mask up to his nose.
"No sense in worrying about it now." Matt waved his hand dismissively. "Honestly, it makes things easier this way. I actually found myself relieved that he was with you."
Peter froze, unsure of what to say.
"Wow. That's....that's unexpected." he finally managed. "I mean, you did tell me to stay away from him."
"I did."
"....but I didn't."
"But you didn't."
"So you're excepting it because you basically have to at this point."
"So I'm excepting it because I basically have to at this point."
"Are you just gonna keep repeating what I say?" Peter narrowed his eyes.
"I'm just making sure you know where we stand currently." Matt replied calmly.
"Ok, you're flooring me honestly. You're ok I'm hanging out with Deadpool despite telling me not to." Peter admitted.
"Well, after your impromptu meeting with the ex Winter Soldier and Avengers, I feel better that someone you trust can be with you."
Peter was once again speechless until he caught all of what Matt said.
"How did you know about Barnes and The Avengers?"
"Your two little masked caretakers." Matt smirked.
"Cat and DP? They told you?" Peter struggled to speak.
"Deadpool caught me earlier tonight. He drops in on me sometimes. He's adamant that the three of us should form a vigilant team and call ourselves Team Red. Cat...she dropped by my office and for the record, I'm pretty sure she wants to sleep with me."
"You should be flattered. The girl has good taste." Peter grinned.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear you say that and off handedly compliment yourself at the same time. However, you're deflecting." Matt frowned.
"No, you're not wrong. Things are getting ....intense? I never meant to talk to Barnes, but from what I can tell he's keeping his word on not telling anyone about it. I think the thing with The Avengers was more on Tony than anything. Also, I have to tell Dr. Connors I'm not taking the internship." Peter sighed and sat on the edge of the roof.
"Any idea about the increase in contact attempts?" Matt asked, sitting down beside him.
"I've been thinking about it. Trying to figure out what's different about now from any other time. I go the intern packet in the mail as well as three different email reminders about responding. Oddly enough, Harry Osborn was the answer." Peter could see Matt's eye brow raise under his mask.
"You think Stark knew Harry was going to offer you a job?"
"No, not that. It was the reason Harry didn't gave me time. Graduation. He offered me the position after graduation. That's Tony's angle. He's pushing more now because he's got an opening. Like Dr. Connors said, it's an amazing opportunity and to get it right out of college is a dream. He gets an intern he knows and out problems are magically solved. Happy ending." Peter rolled his eyes.
Matt was quiet before he spoke.
"You came to me a hopeful wreck Pete. You were a young kid, with amazing abilities, looking for trust and guidance. You've come a long way as both Spider-Man and Peter Parker, so I'm going to ask you a serious question. Do you think your problems could be solved?"
Peter snapped his head up to look at the man in surprise.
"What?"
"Tony. Do you think your problems could be solved?"
"I don't want to be an Avenger."
"You'll never be an Avenger, Pete. You're pretty much property of all the vigilante's in New York at this point." Matt smirked. "But that's not what I asked you."
"I don't know." Peter sighed and frowned. "With you it was always about learning from mistakes. Mistakes you never made me feel less for. With Tony, it was always like I needed to stop. Everything that wasn't mundane, like helping kids find parents, helping old ladies cross the street, or getting cats out of trees, was wrong. Do you know he had a setting on the suit he gave me called the 'Training Wheel Protocol'? It gave him so much access to what I did and where I was. I didn't like it then and I sure as hell couldn't put up with it now."
"No one's asking you to. It's just something that occurred to me recently."
Peter looked at his masked mentor and thought seriously about his question.
"I don't have an answer to that. Sure, eight years is a long time for a grudge, but I like where I am now. While tolerated, The Avengers aren't exactly high on vigilantes and I can't deal with that and Tony. I really don't want to think about it. It was a lot to deal with at 15. Uncle Ben hadn't long been passed and Aunt May was adjusting to that loss and being the sole provider of a kid. I didn't handle the loss easy either. He was so cocky when he found me, but I was so star struck I didn't even notice. I realized pretty quickly why they say you should never meet your heroes."
Matt nodded and looked out over the city.
"Suit up early tomorrow night. I'm expecting something to go down at the docks. Jessica filled me in. You're coming with me."
"It's been a while." Peter grinned. "I'll meet you here.