Chapter 3
"Ow, ow, ow!" Peter groaned as he walked with a slight limp to the kitchen. "She does not mess around when sparring." He mutters to himself pulling open the fridge and saw there was a shelf in the fridge marked Peter. He smiled and noticed each avenger got their own shelf. He grabbed some water and grapes from his shelf and an ice pack from the freezer.
"No she doesn't." A voice said behind him causing Peter to jump and drop the ice pack, he spun around and saw a guy dressed in purple and black sitting at the counter across from him eating an apple.
"Jeeeez, give a guy some warning huh."
"You're the new guy right? Spider-kid?" He asked ignoring Peter's statement.
"It's Spider-MAN." Peter replied a bit of tension entering his voice.
"Really? What are you 16?"
"I'm 21!" Peter exclaimed.
"Hawkeye. You can call me Clint." He said stretching his hand out to Peter with a smirk knowing he got under Peter skin.
"Peter." Peter replied shaking Clint's hand and giving him a nod before picking up his ice pack and webbing it to his side before taking a seat.
"Cool webbing. Kinda creepy but cool." Clint said with a small laugh, Peter took the somewhat compliment. "I saw some of your training. Cool moves, saw how you take down Cap."
"How? Where were you in the room?"
"Ah, like I'd give that away." He said with a chuckle tapping his nose. "Nat, she doesn't hold back. Ever. Shit I'm her best friend and she'll never give me a break." He said laughing, rubbing the back of his head like he was remembering an old injury. "Only reason any of us last so long is because we know her a long time and we train on the regular. So don't let her whooping your ass bring you down. She does it to the best of us." Peter laughed and thanked Clint, he did need to hear something like that.
"How often does she whoop your ass."
"...No comment." They shared a laugh then Clint headed in the direction of the training room. Peter decided to reinforce the webbing on the ice pack before heading back to his room to shower and change. Once he had changed he went to check on the suit being fabricated, it was only a 10th of the way done. It was taking longer because he changes to settings to a higher performance meaning it would take longer but the result would be better, there was a rush mode he noticed incase he was desperate or something. Once he had changed into some jeans and a hoodie he decided to go down to the main lab
"What did we miss?"
"Everything good Tony?" Peter asked as he walked into the lab, Tony swivelled round to see Peter in the door way.
"Oh hey kid. Yeah it's fine. The experiment me and Bruce were working on isn't really going well."
"Well maybe I can help, give some incite?"
"Yeah sure kid. Not today though, I've had enough of it right now." He said wiping his hand over his face slowly. "JARVIS told me you went down to the training room. How was training with Capsicle and Romanoff?"
"Oh pretty good. Got one over on Cap."
"Nice one."
"Then Nat taught me a lesson and whooped my ass." Peter continued, rubbing his side where the now healed side still felt a bit sore.
"Not so nice."
"Met Clint as well. Cool guy, little douchey but I like him."
"Ah Barton. Good to hear you've met most of the team. Only Bruce and Thor left." Tony noted.
"Yeah where are they?"
"Well Banner went to eat and shower. We have been in the lab constantly for the last 2 days. And Thor I have no Idea. Jarvis?" Tony told him.
"On his way back from visiting Miss Foster, sir."
"Oh Thor you'd dirty dog." Tony joked. "Anything else Pete?
"Oh- er yeah. What should I wear tonight?" Peter asked.
"Something causal smart. A dress shirt, decent shoes and trousers to go with. Your wardrobe is filled with a range of clothes."
"Yeah I noticed. Thanks."
"I'll continue to run variations on the interface, but you really should probably prepare for your guests. I'll notify you if there are any developments." JARVIS interrupted them.
"Thanks, buddy."
"Enjoy yourself, sir's."
"I always do." He said heading for the exit. "Let's go Parker"
Peter walked into the party with a black blazer, red dress shirt and matching black trousers. He noticed the party was in full swing, it must've easily been over 100 people spread around the area. He noted Steve play pool with the Falcon, Sam Wilson, Thor was sitting down surrounded by Veterans telling some story with some real vigour, lifting a fist to emphasise his point. He wondered around the party before really interacting with anyone. He saw Natasha and some guy talking and joking on the couch, Peter couldn't quite place the guy but he looked familiar. He noticed Bruce was awkwardly walking about to so Peter thought he'd go introduce himself. "Dr Banner?" Peter said behind him causing the good doctor to jump a little at the sudden introduction. "Hi Dr Banner. I'm Peter Parker." He stretch out his head that Bruce clumsily took, he stared at Peter for a moment before realisation came across his face.
"Oh you're the new guy right."
"Yeah I am. I just want to say it's an honour to meet you."
"Oh yeah you like the... Hulk?" He said struggling to say his alter egos name.
"I mean he's cool. But I meant you Dr Banner and your work." Bruce was a little surprise by this. "I've read all your papers, your work in gamma radiation and nuclear physics as well as your work in Bio-Organics. Me and my friend Ned read your papers for fun."
"Wow Tony said you was smart. Can you do me a favour though?"
"Yeah of course."
"Can you let go of my hand." Bruce said letting out a small chuckle as Peter blushed a little embarrassed as he had been grasping and shaking Bruces hand the entire time. "I don't have many science fans."
"You're a big reason why I love science." Peter told him. It was true, he was a large influence in Peters education. They talked science for a while before they departed and Bruce went to talk with Barton and some woman in a blue dress. Peter went up to the bar and got a drink. "Can I get a Jack and Coke?" He asked the bartender.
"You sure your old enough to drink Parker?" Tony asked as he walked up to him with Thor and the guy he couldn't quite place before in tow.
"I'm 21! Not far off 22!" Peter said incredulously taking his drink and thanking the bartender.
"I'm just messing with you Parker." He patting him on the back. "Pete meet Rhodey and Thor. Guys this is my new protégé, Peter Parker." Peter looked at both at them and nodded. Now he knew why he recognised Rhodey, the War Machine.
"I'm also the new teammate." Peter said putting slight emphasis on the word teammate which they both caught.
"Oh right, the Spider-guy right." Rhodey said as he shook Peters hand.
"Spider-Man, yeah."
"Well good to meet you Man of Spiders. I hope to see your skills in battle soon." Thor said a bit too loudly for Peters liking but luckily it seemed no one noticed. The four of them were talking for a while and Maria Hill joined them, Peter revealed who he was to her too as Tony suggested, they spoke about that for a little bit before Rhodey got into a story of one of his missions.
"Well, you know, the suit can take the weight, right? So I take the tank, fly it right up to the General's palace, drop it at his feet, I'm like, 'Boom! You looking for this?' Tony and Thor just look at Rhodey blankly, "'Boom! Are you looking...' Why do I even talk to you guys? Everywhere else that story kills."
"I liked it." Peter said, Rhodey gave him a small smile but Thor went and ruined it.
"That's the whole story?" Thor asked.
"Yeah, it's a War Machine story."
"Well, it's very good then." Thor laughs. "It's impressive." He tells Rhodey a bit too condescendingly.
"Quality save. So, no Pepper? She's not coming?"
"No." States blankly
"Hey, what about Jane? Where are the ladies, gentlemen?" Maria asked.
"Well, Miss Potts has a company to run."
"Yes, I'm not even sure what country Jane's in. Her work on the convergence has made her the world's foremost astronomer." Thor responded clearly trying to one up Tony
"And the company that Pepper runs is the largest tech conglomerate on earth. It's pretty exciting." Tony retaliated with.
"There's even talk of Jane getting a... um, uh... Nobel prize."
"Yeah, they...they must be busy because they'd hate missing you guys get together. Testosterone!" Maria joked in a mocking cough, making Peter laugh "Oh, excuse me." Rhodey joked along asking if she wanted a lozenge as they walked away.
"But Jane's better." Thor says out of nowhere before walking away so Tony couldn't retaliate.
"That guy," Tony said shaking his head before turning to Peter. "So Parker, enjoying yourself?"
"Yeah its nice. Met Bruce earlier, so that's the team." He said taking a sip of his drink. "This is kinda surreal."
"Yeah I suppose it can be. Friendly Neighbourhood Spidey yesterday, Now Avenging Spider-Man!" Tony said in mock awe.
"I just never thought I'd be here. At a party, with a god and a 100 year old super solider and multiple spies in the room like it's normal."
"That's the new normal kiddo. Welcome to the big leagues." Tony gave Peter a quick pat on the back before going to mingle with a few others near by. Peter went on a walk, he ran into Clint who made the same joke of if he was old enough to have the drink, which Peter retaliated by sticking his tongue out at him which frankly didn't help his case. He then went to the upper level that looked over the entire party as he sipped his drink, taking in everything it seemed to only just hit him that things have escalated quickly. He'd got a job, new education plan, moved places in a day. If Aunt May and Uncle Ben could see him now.
" -Avenging is your world. Your world is crazy." He heard someone say as they approached, he turned to see Steve and Sam walking up to the spot next to him.
"Be it ever so humble." Steve replied then he noticed Peter standing there. "Oh hey Pete. Sam this is the new guy, Tony's new protege." It seemed Tony had informed the Avengers on what to say regarding Peter to those who didn't know his secret identity.
"And the new avenging teammate." Peter said shaking Sam's hand.
"Oh the thwip thwip guy." Sam said making the web shooting hand gesture.
"Yeah the thwip thwip guy." Peter said laughing.
"You find a place in Brooklyn yet?" Sam asked looking to Steve.
"I don't think I can afford a place in Brooklyn." Steve said with a sigh.
"Well, home is home, you know?"
"You're from Brooklyn?" Peter asked.
"Born and raised. What about you kid?"
"Queens." Peter replied, they nodded at one another as they looked at another New Yorker from a similar area. They talked for a few, Sam and Peter joking about for a bit and getting properly acquainted. They separate and Peter goes to mingle a bit more. He walked past Rhodey telling the same story he told Tony and Thor to a group of women at the party
"Boom you looking for this!" He said and got a much better response than before. Peter walked around talking to a few people, some workers of Tony, some other scientist. He talked to a particularly nice veteran who he saw again later on drunk as hell, slurring the word 'Exercisor' as he was taken away.
"So long have you been thwipping and swinging around the city Peter?" Natasha asked taking a sip of her drink.
"6 nearly 7 years I think now." Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck as he now noticed all eyes were on him.
"That would've made you-"
"14 when I started. Yeah."
"You could've died." Steve stated.
"Yeah, well, obviously I didn't." Peter said taking a sip of his own drink.
"Why do it though? Why go around risking your life at such a young age?"
"Ah 14 isn't too young. When I was 14, in Asgardian year of course, I was fighting on the front line of wars with my Father." Thor said chuckling.
"Yeah but 14 is quite young here Thor." Steve pushed, trying to make Thor understand.
"My uncle used to say something, 'With great power comes great responsibility'. And when I got my powers I didn't use them responsibly, I went and fought for money in some dodgy wrestling league. And I saw this burglar running from a cop and I didn't do anything. Wasn't my problem, right? Until I'm on my way home found my uncle dying in some alley way shot and later on I found out that same burglar I didn't stop was the one to shoot my Uncle." The room went dead silent as they all stared at him, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. "And I realised that it was my problem. If I had just stopped that guy my uncle could be alive right now, I had these powers and I had a responsibility to use them." It was dead silent when Peter finished.
"I'm sorry kid." Tony said not know those particular details.
"Its okay, really." Peter told them smiling. He then looked to Steve, "I know it was dumb and I was too young. I nearly died a handful of times. But I saved hundreds of lives, maybe thousands now. And to be honest Cap, me taking on a guy with a knife after getting my powers is hell of a lot safer than some experimental procedure to make you a super solider." They started to laugh at this.
"He's got you there, Rogers." Clint said laughing.
"Thats twice you've surprised me today kid ." Steve said laughing. They all chuckle along none of them looking at Peter pity, treating him as an adult and treating him like he belonged there. They talked for a few, trading stories before getting onto the subject of the hammer.
"But, it's a trick!" Clint exclaimed as he gestured to the hammer.
"Oh, no. It's much more than that."
"Uh, 'Whosoever be he worthy shall haveth the power!' Whatever man! It's a trick." Clint said mockingly as he gestured to the hammer.
"Well please, be my guest."
"Really?"
"Yeah!" Thor said as he egged Clint on.
"Oh this is gonna be beautiful." Rhodey noted as Clint got up.
"Clint, you've had a tough week, we won't hold it against you if you can't get it up." Tony joked causing the others to laugh.
"You know I've seen this before, right?" Clint tell Thor before grabbing the hammer and try as he might he couldn't can't it to no ones surprised. " I still don't know how you do it.
"Smell the silent judgment?"
"Please, Stark, by all means." Clint replied. Tony gets up undoing his blazer button
"Never one to shrink from an honest challenge." Tony retaliated as he put the leather strap around his wrist and grasp the handle."It's physics. Right, so, if I lift it, I...I then rule Asgard?"
"Yes, of course."
"I will be re-instituting Prima Nocta." Tony said jokingly which Peter secretly thought wasn't a joke. Ton tried to lift the hammer but again obviously. "I'll be right back." He told them and came back wearing his armored glove. Tony tried to lift the hammer again and failed, again. Rhodey gets up and get his armoured glove. Now with both of them wearing their armor, Tony and Rhodey both try to lift Thor's hammer.
"Are you even pulling?" Rhodey asked as they made no headway.
"Are you on my team?" Tony asked.
"Just represent! Pull!"
"Alright, let's go!" And they tried at full power but ultimately they fail to lift the hammer and give up. Banner tried to lift the hammer next, he roared jokingly as he pretended trying to change to the Hulk but the joke fell a bit flat, with Natasha giving him a sympathy grin.
"Let's go, Steve, no pressure." Tony remarked as Steve got up.
"Come on, Cap." Rhodey said encouragingly. Steve started pulling on the hammer and it managed to budge the smallest amount. Peter noticed this and the alarmed look on Thor's face. Steve still failed to lift it in the end and Thor laughed with relief.
"Nothing." Thor said still laughing and taking a sip of his drink. Bruce then gestures for Window to go up next.
"Oh, no no. That's not a question I need answered." She said staying seated. They then look to Peter.
"Go on Parker." Tony said as the looked to him.
"Nah, what she said." Peter responds laughing as he nods to Nat, "Don't need that answered."
"All deference to the man who wouldn't be king, but it's rigged."
"You bet your ass."
"Steve, he said a bad language word." Maria piped up
"Did you tell everyone about that?" Steve asked Tony.
"Yeah he did Gramps." Peter said not looking at Steve."
"The handle's imprinted, right? Like a security code. "Whosoever is carrying Thor's fingerprints" is, I think, the literal translation?" Tony asked looking to Thor.
"Yes, well that's, uh, that's a very, very interesting theory. I have a simpler one." He said getting up and lift the hammer, giving it a flip before continuing, "You're all not worthy." This caused a chorus of disagreement and chatter and a few boo's from the others which was interrupted by loud screeching noise, causing everyone to cover their ears and Peter to fall to the ground in pain. His tightened senses taking a hit. They let their hands down slowly as it fades, Natasha and Steve helped Peter up and made sure he was alright. Peter assured them he was okay then his eye drift to the creepy robotic creature behind them.
"Worthy..." It said drawing out the word making everyone look to it. "No... How could you be worthy?"