The Spider

Alive

If I'm being completely honest, I didn't really mean right now.

I really meant like maybe tomorrow or maybe the next day. I was by no means expecting noon.

But sure enough, when that clock on the wall struck twelve, Director Fury strolled into my room. As casual as ever. Just came in a plopped a seat on the chair next to my bed.

"So," He booms, "Ray Parker, huh? Not nearly as intimidating as I thought you'd be, If I'm being honest."

I look at him like he's from another planet. Is he off his rockers too? I should tell Bruce that he's a bad doctor for putting two mental people in the same room.

Noticing the look I'm giving him, he changes his demeanor. More serious now, he speaks again, "Listen Parker. You have caused a lot of trouble. Most of it wasn't your fault, but you have made a lot of enemies. But the good news is that you've made a lot of friends too. The Avengers for one- That's a shocker- which ultimately means that you are now a friend of SHIELD's. AKA me. And when you have friends like me, you want to stay friends with them. You kind of need to... evolve to keep friends like me."

He lost me. He doesn't care.

"So Ray, The Spider, whatever you want to be called. I've got a proposition for you: You sign on with SHIELD, and we keep you're identity secret."

I really don't think it's as simple as he's making it sound, "Ummm... elaborate more on that entire "Keeping my identity secret" thing."

He nods his head, "Well for starters, we'll get you out of that Orphanage. It's too big of a security issue. Then, you'll move into here. Well, not here but into Stark Tower. The upper floors. You would continue being Ray Parker, a student and Bruce Banner's personal assistant. You would also be allowed to train and such if you so wished. You can continue being the Spider without looking over your back all of the time."

Okay. It's official. I like the plan.

It sounds secure enough. I have nothing left to loose but my identity. This secures my one possession, "Okay."

"Great. I'll get the paperwork together. In the meantime, your friends have been listening in on this entire conversation and I'm sure they have a lot of questions for you... I'll leave y'all be."

And sure enough, when he walked out the door, Sarah and Dan come walking in very sheepishly. I laugh at their guilty faces, "You guys need lessons from Natasha or something. Y'all's spying skills suck."

Sarah shrugs it off, but Dan still looks guilty. I don't really worry about it too much because Sarah diverts my attention, asking random questions and things. Making comments on Nick Fury's attitude and such. It even makes me laugh a little. She asks about the thing she already knows but wants to ask anyways. In the end, we end up in quite funny conversations. Dan joins in and our spirits are kind of lifted.

I look at Dan and we burst into laughter about something Sarah just said. It wasn't even that funny, but we end up laughing till our guts hurt and tears are in our eyes. As we calm down, I study him more closely. He's fairly muscular. He's got dirty blonde hair and grey eyes. They look like storm clouds. I love storms.

It took me a while to realize he was studying me with the same intensity. If not, more so.

Sarah mumbles something about lunch or a restroom or something that resulted her in leaving us. I watched as the door closed. I don't think Dan noticed though, because when I direct my view to him again, he's still staring at me.

I give him a small smile and He smiles back and looks down, breaking the gaze. I suddenly feel bad. I'm not sure what for, but it result in me reaching out to grab his hand.