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***
1 September 2013. 9:47am.
Queens home.
Peter Parker's bedroom after moving in.
I wake up and, enjoying the brief semi-sleepy state, stretch with a loud groan of pleasure.
- Beautiful," I scratch my side.
But I have a lot to do today, so I don't have time to lie down.
In one easy movement I jump out of bed and go to the shower.
I do my morning routine and think about my plan.
Hopefully most of the people I plan to meet are free. Still, I'd better make a phone call.
I dry off, put on fresh underwear, and head downstairs.
The smell of food from the kitchen informs me that either Del is awake and tending to the cooker, or Aunt May has arrived.
The former.
- Good morning," I greet my sister.
- Good morning," the brown-haired girl replies, and immediately turns away, turning almost crimson. - Why are you naked?!
Yeah, so I'm still reacting.
- Just out of the shower," I answer, wiping my hair. - What are we having for breakfast?
I'm sitting down at the table.
- Scrambled eggs with bacon, pancakes, freshly squeezed orange juice or coffee, your choice of turkey sandwiches and a banana muffin, fresh from the oven," Del accompanied the list of dishes by placing plates and cups on the table.
- Wow, you've outdone yourself, sis," I said, surveying the plates of smoky and not-so-smoky goodies.
- You're up early," Parker said, wiping her hands.
- Are you training for Natasha? - I couldn't help but tease.
- Peter! - I got the expected righteous indignation in response.
- Just kidding, just kidding, - I justify myself, chewing a piece of omelette.
Erm, with cheese.
- I don't really know," Del sighed, taking a seat across from me, "I think I need time to figure it out.
- Then it's a good thing no one's rushing you, isn't it? - I salute the coffee cup, taking a sip.
- Yeah, I guess so," Parker said a little uncertainly, but decided to change the subject immediately. - So, there was something you wanted to discuss with me and my brothers, right?
- That's right," I nodded. - But it will wait until tonight, and for today I have plans, I would say, just imperial plans.
- What kind of plans? - Sis asked, putting her fists under her chin.
- I have a lot of people to see, and your intended is on the list," I winked at her, but all I got in response was rolled eyes.
- You can't get it," Delia said in a low voice.
I just laugh.
- In fact, I need to use some of my newfound magical arsenal to see if it works.
- Oh, yeah, you're a wizard," my sister said, grinning.
- Right on.
The rest of breakfast passes in silence.
- Thanks, Del," I put the dishes in the sink and kiss my sister on the cheek.
- You're welcome.
I'm about to walk away, but someone grabs my arm.
- Seriously, Pete, if you two meet, not a word to Natasha, do you understand?
And that look, that serious look. I'm ready to hug this little squirrel right here!
- I got it, I got it, but deal with your crisis of orientation.
I carefully get out of the gentle but strong girl's hands and run upstairs.
I grab my mask and dial Stark.
- Spider, is that you?
- I didn't think you had my number, Tony," I answer with a smile in my voice and open the wardrobe door. - What's up, futurist?
- Fine, the company is blooming, the stock is growing, the crisis after the reclassification of enterprises from the military segment is slowly being eliminated. Oh, and I just asked Pepper out on a date.
- You did? That's great! How's that going? - I'm pulling out my adamantium katanas.
- I don't want to say, but it's going pretty well so far.
- Glad to hear it. Hey, are you busy today?
- Not really, I was gonna spend the day in the workshop, updating my armour. What's up?
- I wanted to meet up, have a chat, maybe run a diagnostic on my armour. So you don't mind the company?
- Of course not, Spidey, fly up anytime," Stark replies, relaxed.
- Cool, see you later, Tony," I drop the call.
I pull out Uncle Ben's old golf bag and put the swords in it.
I'm dialling Cap's number.
- Peter? - I hear the surprised voice of a patriotic blond guy after I take the call.
- You're still plugging in numbers, huh, old man?
- Where you been?! You all right?!
- Yeah, yeah, everything's fine, Steve, stop being a mother hen," I replied with feigned irritation. - Still, it's nice to know you're worried, mate. And about where I've been, are you busy today? Why don't we get together and talk?
- Shit...I've got a mission with the Strike Force, should I cancel?
- No, no," I slung my bag on my shoulder and, taking off my mask, transferred the call to my phone, "we'll talk at our next training session, judging by the schedule we've organised for months in advance, it's in a couple of days, right?
- Yeah," Rogers sighed. - I'll never get used to you disappearing and then coming back and getting back into the routine.
- What can I say, I'm not one for reflection in this matter," I said, walking out of the house. - Good to hear from you, Steve, see you later.
- Bye.
I'm dropping the call.
I'm dialling Natasha.
- Hello," comes the slightly panting voice of the spy.
Probably a morning workout.
- Hi, Mum," I say with a smile. - I'm surprised you didn't recognise my number.
- Headset, - answered the Widow deceptively affectionate tone. - Where are you, son?
That was her way of supporting a joke. So she's angry. Fucking pissed off.
If we're gonna have a meeting, it's gonna have to be in a place full of witnesses.
- How about lunch? - in my best spy style, I'm answering my mentor exactly as she taught me.
- Sure, what time and where? - Same affectionate, maniacal tone.
- Three o'clock, Fredo's, okay?
It's not even rush hour, it's full of people. It's also Natasha's favourite place and she's always got a table there.
- Sure, I'll see you later, darling. The call ends.
I'm scared.
Okay, later.
I'm going down to the basement.
I think I'll check the Defenders individually, and I'll talk to them about HYDRA after I've gathered everyone. And it doesn't have to be tonight.
I open my bag and grab my katanas.
I put the swords on the table and sit on the chair. I raise my palms, concentrate, and begin the search weave Strange taught me.
If I've got the right ingredients...oh, shit, right!
I stop manipulating and rush over to the chest that stood beside the couch. I unlock the lid and pull out a map of the world. A detailed one, not just of the capitals, but of the major cities and many of the famous islands of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Uncle Ben gave it to me for my twelfth birthday.
I spread the map out on the table and put my katanas next to it.
Okay, the map is there and hopefully the swords that once belonged to him will be enough to search.
I take my Crusade against HYDRA very seriously. I need an army and any potential soldier will do. And I'm sure I'll need someone like Deadpool.
I cast a search spell, and after a couple of minutes, a small haze starts to stretch from the swords to the map, which then settles on a specific point.
- So Aruba," I glance at the map, "you're taking a holiday in the islands, Wade?
My plans to go straight to the big-name mercenary were thwarted by the memory of my promise.
I changed into my suit, hung my katana scabbard on my backpack, and left the house in disguise.
A dozen Spiderbots are left at home, in the basement, right in the brickwork, so if there's an intrusion, spies, or an unexpected challenge for both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, I'll know.
Safety first.
I head for the nearest back alley and run up the wall, removing the disguise from my Perfect Suit.
I snag a spider web and head to Time Square to see an old acquaintance.
It's a smooth journey.
- Hey, Ricardo! - I greet the fast-food vendor, hanging upside down on the web, "How's business?
- Dios mio! This is my good old friend, Friendly Neighbour! - spoke in an accented voice, a man in his forties. - Everything's fine, Spidey, the usual for you?
- No, Ricardo," I jumped off the thread. - Be kind enough to organise four chimichangas today.
- Chimichangas? Well, whatever you say," the man started cooking, and I pulled a stack of notes out of my pocket.
- How are things in Harlem, are things quiet? - I wondered, while I had time.
- Yes, everything is fine, - the man answers with a smile, - heroism, yours and other people in suits is paying off, one way or another. By the way, is it true what they say on the streets, you've been seen surrounded by several other spider men?
- What can I say, I have a family too," I smile slightly.
- That's great," the chief hands me a bag of freshly made chimis. - That'll be thirty quid.
- Here you go," I hand him fifty bucks, "no change, mate," I shoot out a web and fly away.
- God bless you, Spider-Man," Ricardo said to the hero, who could no longer hear him.
In twenty minutes, I reach one of my most familiar rooftops.
I land and raise my palms. It's embarrassing that one of them has a bag of food in it, but what can I do.
In a few movements, I open a portal to the place where the tracking charms are taking me.
I'm on an island off the coast of Venezuela. I love teleportation.
I switch on symbiotic invisibility to avoid attracting attention, but my search doesn't last long. Practically in the centre of the huge beach there is a lonely lounger with an umbrella.
Even a dozen metres away, I can hear a joyful, cheerful and invariably loud voice.
- No, no, no, no, Bob, I'm not getting involved in business with your employers any more, not at any price. Why not? Well, firstly, you're Nazis, and secondly, it's off script. Anyway, bye-bye, I have an important conversation to have, - Wade said his nonsense and threw the phone away, taking a tall glass with multicoloured liquids, a lot of edible and inedible decorations in his palm and sipped the drink from the tube with a loud rattle.
I wonder if he was talking to Hydra-Bob.
- I see you're not cheating on yourself," I stand next to the mercenary, cutting off my disguise.
- Spidey! - Deadpool jumps up and gives me a big hug.
- Okay, okay, it's good to see you too, you big mouth," I realise it's time to end the hug when I feel Wilson's uncontrollable hands reaching for my buttocks. - Okay, that's it," I push the regenerator away.
- To what do I owe the honour of seeing you? - The hired man asks, not offended in the slightest, and taking the glass in his hands again.
I bet he knows.
- I remember I owe you something, don't I? - I'm rustling the fast food bag a little.
- And I thought holidays couldn't get any better! - with a sparkle in his eye, Wade held out his arms.
How does he do it with a mask on his face and only up to his nose?
Handing the chatterbox a bag of chimichangas.
- I'd suggest you lie down, but there was only one lounge chair, and you're not likely to share it with me," Wade said politely, rummaging through the bag.
- It's okay, I've got something," I said, several thick symbiotic tendrils coming out of my back, and as they lengthened, they formed a small recliner, on which I settled down next to Deadpool's.
- Wow, cool," whistles the chatty mercenary, "but I'm sure it wasn't just a long-standing promise that got you here, huh?
- Right," I sigh, putting my palms under my head. - There's a big fight coming up, Wade, and I could use someone like you to bolster my strength.
- Hmm...you know what Misto says about foursomes?
- А?
- Fours. An unlucky number, and you brought four chimichangas.
- You like Araki's work? - I ask with a slight smirk.
The thing about talking to Deadpool is you don't sweat it. This guy can start juggling grenades in the middle of a serious conversation, so you just have to accept the rules of the game and be a ready circus performer yourself.
- You can't wait until they start making anime," Wilson says with an important thumbs-up. - And seriously," Wade really gets serious. - You're about to get into a big fight, let me ask you who with?
- HYDRA.
- Wow," the hired man in red starts rubbing his chin. - With all due respect to you, Spidey, that's a big chunk, and my rates aren't small.
- How much do you want?
- Depends on what your plan is.
- Most of the work will be done in the shadows, none of your business, but for the big fight, I'll need big guns, and you're one of them.
- And how many of those guns will there be?
- Enough," I nod confidently. - If you want, I'll come back when I'm sure I'll have all my strength.
- No, don't worry about it," Wade said, stretching a little. - I'm in.
- So...how much?
- I was kidding, Spidey," Wilson elbows me. - Of course, I'll help you on a pro bono basis, as a friend, for only three million.
- Oh, all right, I'll be right there, I'm just going to the veg shop," I said to the regenerator.
- You know what I mean," Wade laughs too.
- Okay, but after the case.
- Whatever you say," Deadpool pulls his hat over his eyes and leans back on the lounger. - Find me when the action starts.
- By the way," I snap my fingers and turn around to face the mercenary as the symbiotic material is drawn into his body. - I forgot to ask, is Kingpin still after you?
- Willy? 'Mr five lunches a day has bigger problems than me right now,' Wade salutes me with his cocktail, 'just decided to take a holiday, Spidey.
- I got it. Well, have a nice holiday.
I say goodbye to Deadpool, and after I've travelled some distance, I raise my palm with a double ring, opening a portal and moving to Malibu, straight to Tony's house.
- Hey, Jarvis," I turn to the electronic butler as I approach the door, "let an old mate in?
- Spider-Man, sir, welcome," the mechanical voice said, and I stepped inside.
Tony's house is still grand and expensive and rich. But I didn't come for the ambience.
I go down to the basement workshop of the man in armour and see the inventor picking at his armour.
- Hello, - I say, having entered the password and found myself directly in the holy of holies of the billionaire's engineering genius.
- Spider! - Stark took off his welding mask and looked at me with a sparkle of excitement, "Good to see you, mate!
ZH took off his gloves and held out his palm to me.
I confidently responded to the handshake.
- You too, do you have time to talk?
- Sure," Stark nods, "we'll talk about the closed-loop system, I've decided to improve the repulsors.
***
Three o'clock in the afternoon.
"Frado's.
Natasha sat at her permanently reserved table and glanced at her watch, tapping her finger nervously on the tabletop.
Romanova was actually quite nervous. She had long ago realised that something was wrong with Pete. His actions as a Venom Agent, the conversations, the movements, were too unfamiliar.
At first she had been reassured that her student had learned his lessons perfectly and had simply decided to choose a new line of behaviour, but then the redhead became convinced, this new Spider was no Peter Parker.
She went to Fury with this, but he calmed her down, saying he'd explain everything later, but for now she should pretend this guy is the Spider-Man she knows...or rather Agent Venom.
Not to say that the spy was happy with Fury's order, but what angered her more was that of the agents who knew Spidey, she was the only one who noticed the change, neither Colson nor even Clint suspected anything. It was like they didn't care!
But she didn't.
Yes, the idiot still managed to get his jokes into the heart of the spy. Without knowing it, he'd picked his mentor's most painful point and with that, "Mum", Natasha was really starting to treat Peter like a son. Even unbeknownst to herself.
For that, he would get a separate one.
And so the careless "spider son" was already ten minutes late.
Another ringing of the bell of the opening door caught Romanova's attention.
In the door stood Peter Parker, the same unruly brown hair, cheerful and guilty look, the same smile.
- I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know I'm late," the brown-haired man began to wail, sitting down on a chair.
- Important business? - Black Widow asked, trying to look indifferent.
- A lot of people need to know that I'm back, that I'm all right," Pete said with a certain gusto.
And Nat was so distracted by this bravado that she did not notice that the boy reached out and took her hand in his.
- You're not mad, are you, Mum?
And your eyes are glowing with guilt.
- Of course I'm not angry," Natasha exhaled, not even trying to pull her palm away. - But you're still going to explain what this mess with the Spider-Men and your replacement in the Shield is all about.
- You guessed it," Parker shook his head.
- It's hard not to notice the changed behaviour of someone you've been training for six months.
- Did you talk to Fury?
- He said we'd discuss it later, but since you found me, tell me," the young woman put her foot on her leg in an expectant pose.
- Do you mind if I speak our language? - I start to speak Russian.
Only a nod in reply.
- It's simple, a mad scientist stole my blood and created three clones, one of my brothers, Cain, has been replacing me in the Shield since the whole Agent Venom story, and my sister Delia you met only recently, as far as I know. I'm sure if you open my file, you'll see the cases of the 'sudden' relatives, I've already discussed this point with Nick.
I shut up and wait for Natasha's reaction.
The woman presses her lips together and can see that she is analysing what she said.
- Who else knows about this?
- About the fact that I've got relatives? Almost everyone. That they're clones? Just family, Nick and now you.
- I see.
Romanoff falls silent again and a waitress comes to the table with the food.
- 'The usual for you, Miss Romanoff,' the young waitress smiles at Natasha, placing her plate on the table.
She was clearly making eyes at my mentor.
- Thank you, Lucy, young man's order?
- It's coming up. Anything else?
- No, thank you.
The girl's leaving.
- Does she have a crush on you or is it just me? - I ask the spy, who has started eating, in a whisper.
- No, not imagined, she's been making eyes at me for a long time, young, naive, - Natasha grins.
But what is this, if not a hint from the universe?
- By the way, Nat, we've never discussed this, but you like both girls and guys, don't you?
- I'm bisexual, that's right," the redhead nods and arches an eyebrow. - Why the interest?
- No, I'm just curious," I dismiss any insinuations. - Listen, if Clint or Phil are interested, tell them that I'm okay, without the initiation into...you know? - I'm changing the subject.
- You don't have to worry about that, our brave agents of the sixth level don't suspect anything while the clone is taking care of you," the mentor snorted.
- Then I can only be glad that I have such an attentive mother, right? - I wink at Romanova.
She only smiles and shakes her head in response.