"You can't be serious", her voice rings through the room, "there's no way you're going, right?", Shuri asks. Peter looks down onto the bead bracelet, "Well...". It doesn't go well. "That's a stupid idea", Shuri spits.
She's not entirely wrong, but Peter still chooses to argue, "but it's not the first time I've gone there since...".
Shuri's unconvinced, "that's still how they tricked you before". He shakes his head, the beads having a projected screen for Shuri to see, "but now there's Ms Nat, if they were gonna do anything they would've done so already. Karen's hacked into the SHIELD databases. Nothing". Even though his argument is fair, and Shuri has hacked into SHIELD plenty of times and found nothing suspect. "Fine, but I'm hacking into their tower and at the first sign of bullshit I'm hurting them. Physically". Not the agreement Peter was looking for, but it's more than he expected her to give.
Moving on to avoid her, he remembers her gift, "thanks for the bracelet by the way, it's really cool". She rolls her eyes. "A; of course it is, I made it. B; I know you're trying to distract me and I will allow it to work. C; you're welcome Spidey, I'm working on a couple more things. Might get them to you for Hanukkah". Peter's Thanks are interrupted by his door opening, his aunt walking in. "Hey Sweetie", May smiles, Peter only lightly startled by her sudden appearance. "Sup May-xcellence", Shuri grind through her screen, Peter's already jumpy nature growing more and more flustered.
"Hello Shuri", May smiles, Peter sputtering away, ignored by both. "Did you hear about his numbskull idea?", Shuri spits at Pete, May nodding, knowing exactly what she means. "He told me over lunch, I also made it clear I don't like it". While no one's giving him any attention, he's still sputtering, scowling at May. "Then why don't you stop him?!", Shuri spits again. May sighs tired. "Not my decision, but he knows my Spider-Man rules, so as long as he follows them — which he is — then he's allowed".
Shuri frowns, angry to not have her way here, while Peter's smiling up at May. She looks down sternly. "Follow my rules", she scolds, now Peter frowns and Shuri grins. "You tell him your May-xcellence!".
Desperate for an escape, he looks for the time. "Oh, gonna be late", he jumps from his bed ending the call, Shuri cut off mid threat and swear. May fondly looking over Pete as he runs into his closet for his suit, "gotta change". She leaves to give him his privacy, and gives one more hug and talking to after he's dressed.
He swings over through the scenic route, held back by a few minor crimes. Only when 15 minutes late and running up Stark Tower does he remember, "Oh no! Forgot to get a gift". Doesn't matter as he's got no time and he's more than half way up and not doing that again.
Much like 2 weeks ago, he knocks on the window, startling the hawk, the ant and the falcon. Tony gesturing FRIDAY to let him in. "Late, aren't we?", the billionaire smirks, Spidey landing next to both the man and the couch. "Spidey!", Pietro shouts, most avengers coming in and waving, shaking hello with their guest. The fact these are the real deal and not illusions is a quiet comfort for Peter, his Spidey-Sense's complete silence being another one. "Sorry to break up your party, but dinner's served", Steve calls to the group, setting the final couple of plates onto their table.
"You heard em, Underoos?", Tony nods to the table, everyone sprawling over. Spidey was one of the last to come over and it became evident they saved a seat for him, the head of the table. Tony and Nat on one side, Steve and Bucky on the other. And at every point, from the hellos to the table, in-spite of the seeming friendly apparel of everyone, there was some subtle tension. Though what really got Peter were the dinner conversations.
"Must be pretty smart to do what you do", Scott starts after a few minutes of idle chatter, "to make your suit". Peter lowers the mask — which he had unfurled up to his mouth — so Karen's voice modulator would kick in again. "Umm, I guess? It's not that impressive and Shuri's the one that made this one". Steve, Tony, Nat, Bruce and Bucky all realise, the reason he's using this one and not the one Shuri and him made together. They silently wince but are happy when everyone moves on, "But thank you", Spidey nods looking down and unfurling his mask again.
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A year to Remember. Part 3, The Conclusion
Fanfiction(Part 3 of A Year To Remember) Peter finally knows who his Zoo friends are, and everything is finally settling down. However while his friends - The Avengers - don't have any more secrets from him, he still has one last one he's keeping from them. S...
