You Could Make a Case for That

This is an interesting theory. Clint fans were furious at Tony when Tony exposed the Barton family to Thaddeus Ross. As they pointed out, Loki kept that secret. And Adrian Toomes kept the secret of Peter's identity from his fellow criminals. Funny how they could be trusted more than Tony. What if Peter found out?

Note: Set in the AU where Loki saw what happened in Siberia and joined Team Cap.

Peter was in his room studying when someone suddenly said behind him, "The Carrion Crow has kept your secret."

He squeaked and rolled, wishing he was wearing his web shooters. A tall, thin man with long black hair stood in the middle of the room. Peter asked, "Who are you and how did you get in here?"

The man smirked and said, "The more interesting question is Why I am here. I am Loki of Asgard, and I teleported."

Peter sat up and said, "Okay. Why are you here, then? And who is the Carrion Crow and what secret are they keeping?"

Loki said, "I'm not quite sure myself why I have come. But the good captain is still a leader, even if he no longer acknowledges his title. He and the others of his merry band heard of your recent adventures and worried that you were injured. I took it upon myself to be a 'team player' and check up on you."

He shrugged and continued, "The Carrion Crow is the villain you vanquished. Is that not the name he used?"

Peter said, "Oh, you mean the Vulture!"

Peter leaned forward and said, "That's good, that he's keeping my secret." It had actually never occurred to Peter that he would be at risk. So much happened it slipped his mind, but he appreciated the reassurance. He said, "Thank you, for letting me know."

Loki turned as if to leave, then faced Peter again. He said, "Perhaps I've spent too long in the do-gooder's company, but I feel the need to give you fair warning: While this Vulture it seems will keep your secret, Stark may not be as trustworthy."

Peter frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Loki replied, "The Vulture, he was angry at your part in his imprisonment. But when he had an opportunity to get revenge, he kept silent."

He paused, then asked, "Do you know of what happened between me and the archer?"

Peter's forehead crinkled, but then he said, "You mean Hawkeye? Not really."

Loki looked troubled, then said, "When he was my slave, he revealed to me all of his secrets. Including a family he kept hidden from all but a few."

After a moment, Loki continued, "Even as a villain, I did not use that information against him. Some years later, the archer brought the Avengers to his hidden family's home, to protect them from Ultron."

Peter leaned forward, anxious to hear the rest of the story.

Loki said, "After the airport battle, the archer and others were taken to a secret underwater lair. Stark visited them there, to gain information on the captain's location. The prisoners taunted Stark. In revenge, he revealed the existence of the archer's family to the warden of the prison, making them possible hostages if they were captured."

Peter swallowed and asked, "Why would Mr. Stark do that?"

Loki shrugged and said, "He was angry and took that opportunity. Stark also had the means to hide his words from the warden. He chose not to."

Peter swallowed. He didn't want to believe that villains behaved better than Mr. Stark. But then he thought about how Mr. Stark threatened to tell Aunt May about Spider-Man if Peter didn't go to Germany to fight Captain America.

Loki handed Peter a super-old cell phone and said, "I think the team would be glad to hear from you that you are well."

Then Loki smiled and said, "And when you call the good captain, remember to tell him how helpful I was." Then he disappeared.

Leaving Peter with some things to think about.