Chapter Text
Peter was late to his first day of hero training.
To be fair, Colonel Rhodes had reached out to Peter through Karen and the Iron Spider Suit, which Peter was no longer using. Plus, Peter hadn’t even known Karen could receive calls from the other heroes, so he hadn’t been checking. It wasn’t until Peter had been inserting Karen into his latest homemade suit that she’d finally updated him about the 20 com messages he’d missed and he’d swung out the window instantly.
“It seems I no longer have access to your suit’s full capabilities, Spider-Man,” Karen stated as he swung upstate as fast as he could.
“Call me Peter,” he mumbled as continued swinging through the city. In hindsight Peter knew that not existing also applied to Karen’s codes, the spell overriding all her learned protocols about his identity. That didn’t change the fact that it was weird.
“I know, I’m wearing a different suit, Karen,” Peter responded as he latched onto yet another skyscraper and released.
“Was there a problem with my previous functions?”
“Yeah, you lost a couple chunks of nanotech.”
“If nanotech is the problem, then the Stark corporation has several resources at your disposal. Would you like me to list your options?”
“Not right now, Karen. I kind of like being a friendly neighborhood hero again. You know, like the other Peters.”
“What ‘other Peters’ are you referring to?”
“Oh, nevermind.”
“If you desire to stay local, then may I inquire as to the speed in which we are traveling to the Avengers Compound?”
“The Iron Patriot told me they’re training superheroes! Do you have any idea how cool that is?”
“I believe the temperature will not be that different as we are only traveling a few minutes north.”
“No–I mean–just– incredible! Do you think I’ll just be training with the War Machine only or do you think I can train with other heroes too?”
“Based on the information within Colonel James Rhodes’ previous communications, I believe there will be several young protégés at this meeting.”
“Yes! Who do you think it will be? Do you think I’ll be training with just newbies or will the Avengers be there? You know, like Dr. Banner or Hawkeye or Captain Marvel? Maybe even Captain America? You know I totally fought him once. Both the old one and the new one. Hey, do you think the new Captain’s still using Red Wing as a part of his suit? That little drone was the only reason I lost last time.”
“My records indicate that a drone is indeed logged in Captain America’s weapons list.”
“I wonder if he’ll be harder to beat now that he also has the shield? Oh, and maybe he can teach me how to more accurately propel. I just added some new gliders to my suit and they’re so difficult to navigate.”
“Colonel Rhodes’ messages do not yet indicate a specific number or people present, simply the intent, time and place.”
“I know, I know! I’m almost there, Karen.” As if to prove a point the final skyscraper faded behind him and Peter spread his newly applied gliders to begin his shaky descent. Once landed, he sprinted towards the compound which was still a good mile away.
“Karen, try patching us through to the compound again.”
“Attempting trial 7 now.” A ringing sound echoed through Peter’s mask only to be greeted by a dial tone seconds later.
“Hello, Mr. Patriot, sir. It’s Spider-Man. Again.” Peter was panting, but as the compound was nearing he refused to slow down. “I’m almost there and am planning on meeting you in the training room. Just wanted to make sure you haven’t moved since then as I’m a bit late. So sorry ‘bout that, sir. I’ll be there soon. I promise. I’m just gonna–yeah.” At that, Peter hung up.
“Your messages are not very eloquent, Peter.” Karen reprimanded and Peter can’t help but cringe.
“I know, I know.”
“It is very endearing.”
Peter didn’t have the breath to respond as he sprinted across the open field and, minutes later, he was up the stairs and running past the elevator towards the training facilities.
“I’m here!” he yelled as he pushed through the doors. His legs quaked from exertion and the sweat that should have been beading down his forehead was stuck inside his mask. He leaned against the door and immediately bent over in exhaustion.
Within seconds he felt his spidey senses tingle. It wasn’t enough to alarm him, only enough to show him that there were several quizzical gazes all aimed at him. As he looked up he was petrified to find five pairs of intimidating eyes all trained on him.
It would have been one thing if he had interrupted a full-fledged hero like the Iron Patriot. That would have been terrible, but Peter could survive the embarrassment. But no, he had interrupted not only the Iron Patriot, but also Hawkeye and the new Captain America. To top it off, there were three other students in the room who seemed as though they had been sparring, but were now looking at him expectantly. He shrunk in on himself and waved half-heartedly.
“Why, thank you for joining us, Spider-Man,” the new Captain America said with a sarcastic edge to his voice.
“Sorry I’m late Mr.--” Peter paused as he gasped for breath, “--Mr. Captain America, sir.”
Sam Wilson guffawed under his breath and nodded his head to the three other recruits standing opposite to the three heroes before him.
“Right, sorry, I’ll just–” and with that eloquent speech he went to stand next to his peers. Two girls and one guy, none of which he recognized and all that looked older than him.
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” Sam continued, “we’re trying our best to maintain good relations with the local and abroad governments. Each and every one of you here has some sort of gift or ability that has made it onto their radars, whether in a good or bad way. Regardless of what the media says we believe that each of you has what it takes to possibly be a hero and a member of the Avengers Initiative. Therefore–”
“Wait!” exclaimed a dark haired girl from Peter’s side. “You’re saying that we get to be, like, real Avengers!”
“Kate,” reprimanded Hawkeye from his perch in the front corner of the room. It was clear by the fact that they’re both wearing bow and arrows that she was his protégé.
“Maybe,” continued Colonel Rhodes as he picked up where the Captain left off. It’s clear that both of them are in agreement with whatever it is they are explaining as both of them seem to be in sync as to the other’s announcement. “But in order to assure the government that you are an ally and not a threat we have to train with you regularly and keep tabs on each of your locations.”
“So we’d be your weapons, then,” a blonde two down from Peter responds with a heavy Russian accent. “I don’t blame you for wanting me. I’m a pretty great weapon. Very lethal. I’m–”
“This isn’t–” Captain America interrupted, though it was cut off before he could continue.
“I wasn’t finished,” the Russian girl responded bluntly. “You men are always so rude. Cutting people off mid sentence. For all you know I could’ve been about to say something super cool like I have laser powers or something.”
“Do you?”
“Well, no, but I guess you will never know now will you?”
“He apologizes,” Hawkeye told her as he gestured for her to continue.
“I’m done being a tool for other people,” the blonde said as the joke in her voice was instantaneously replaced with an icy blankness.
“This wouldn’t be like that,” Captain America replied as he removed himself from the boxing podium that had been acting as a sort of stage and leaned against one of its poles, changing the mood in the room from a lecture to a conversation, “Look. I know just as much as you how it feels to be underneath the metaphorical boot, ok. In fact, when the Accords first came out, I was on the opposing team and was even placed on the RAFT as a result of that disagreement.”
The snarky Russian only continued her glare so Sam continued, “That being said, the Accords did show that us heroes need to put more thought into our relationships between the government and those who protect it.”
Peter, knowing where this conversation was leading, knew he had to speak up. Just months ago the whole world had known his identity and chaos had ensued. He had been picked apart by the media and everyone he loved had paid the price for it. He had barely survived it with his aunt and friends by his side. How could he do that now that his aunt was dead and his friends still had no clue they had previously known him. Besides, in order to prevent a multiversal invasion Peter had to stop existing, and there was currently no proof that dredging up his old identity in a nationwide governmental search wouldn’t continue the invasion that Peter had been trying so desperately to prevent.
“Look,” Peter said and immediately regretted it as all eyes are on him again, “I mean, sorry, I just–” Peter took a deep breath and continued, “Mr. Captain America, sir, I can’t reveal my identity. I know this sounds selfish but a lot of people are relying on me to keep my identity a secret and I can’t let them down.”
“Ok,” said the Captain.
“Ok?” Peter gaped.
“Yeah, ok. Look, kid, we knew that would probably be a dealbreaker as soon as we met you. You’ve already faced a lot of baddies and if people knew who you were they would go after your loved ones. It recently happened to Mr. Barton over here so we have already requested to keep everyone's privacy as much or as little as they want.”
“Ok,” piped in the third recruit. He appeared to be of Asian descent and, while his posture and jacket seem to show a laid back person, the obsessive amount of bracelets he wears gives off a different impression. “So, if we’re going to be a part of this whole Avengers thing–which, wow that sounds cool–what would we need to do?”
Colonel Rhodes took the floor again, still standing on the boxing podium. “We would train together twice a week and be able to communicate with each other when necessary. The only stipulation we have for keeping identities a secret is that you have to pick up the phone any and every time we call you. You are not required to help, nor are you required to share any personal information. You are even able to call us in return, if you ever need. You just have to pick up when we call you.”
“And Kate,” Hawkeye began as he faced the dark haired archer once more, “that means only call for emergencies.”
“What do you constitute as an emergency?”
“If someone’s life is in danger.”
“What if someone ate the last poptart and I want to figure out who?”
“Then you send a text.”
“I can text the Avengers!” At this Kate’s voice seemed to rise several octaves.
“Yes, but you cannot call them unless your life is legitimately in danger.”
“Wow, ok, wow.”
Rhodes, seeming to realize the conversation had been veering out of his control, spoke up. “If you do not answer our calls or if you are late or don’t show up to training–” Iron Patriot didn’t look at Peter when he said that, but Peter could feel the stares of his future teammates regardless, “--then you will be seen as an enemy of the state as opposed to an ally.”
“That’s it, though?” Kate asked excitedly. “Just pick up the phone and come to training and I’m an Avenger!”
Had it been two years ago, Peter was sure he would’ve shared Kate's enthusiasm. After all, he had been offered a spot in the Avengers before. He vividly remembers the elation he felt and the proud look he had seen on Mr. Stark’s face. The problem was that he had also seen the aftermath of battles and experienced the cost of what it meant to be a hero. He had lost literally everyone in his life because of the choices he made. His decisions hurt others. Would it be fair to his new life to continue working on this large scale?
“Can I keep training with Wong and the others, or do I train here too?” the Asian from the corner asked and Peter couldn't help but be surprised that this man had already been training with the Sorcerer Supreme.
“You can continue training,” Captain America says, “but you’d have to train here too. Unfortunately, your little stunt on the bus a few months ago got you noticed on a large scale. Combine that with the gossip that your friends have been spreading about you on the internet and you’ve gained even the President’s eye. He wants you on the Avengers team. After the Battle for Earth so many heroes either left earth, died, or went into retirement that it’s making our governing officials quite antsy.”
“Do you have the official papers?” asked the Russian.
“The Accords contract?” Rhodes questioned as he turned towards the briefcases in the back of the room.
“Yes,” the woman says with a sigh. “I’m sure it will be boring and exceedingly long but we shall read it together, yeah? Maybe we can all make food before we start reading though, because I don’t know about you all but I am starving and want some mac-and-cheese.”
“I’m down,” replies the Asian from the corner. “I’m Shaun by the way, Shang-Chi.”
“Yelena,” she replies. “What about you, Kate Bishop?”
“I’m down. Boxed mac-and-cheese is delicious.”
“How about you, Spider-boy?”
“Spider-Man,” Peter defends though he doesn’t really mean it. “And sure, I’m always hungry so I can eat at least three boxes myself.”
At this point Colonel Rhodes returned and held up four copies of a multi-page report. “Here are the copies,” he said, though that much was obvious. “Let’s get reading.”