Spider-Man: Duty and Loss Chapter 6: Meeting

"So you'll be off on a contract again?" Peters slightly hoarse voice sounded out as Natasha packed up her stuff and slung her bag over her shoulder. She turned his way and nodded her head. "Yes, you know consulting work; have to leave the country for a few days." A slightly look of worry appeared on her face as she continued. "Watch your back out there." It was almost unthinkable the cold and calculating Black Widow could mutter such words, but right now she was.

Peter looked up at her and gave a small smile, he hadn't given a full smile in a long time. "You know me, I'll keep myself safe. I only have to deal with other homeless people stealing my bench. Haha" Peter forced a laugh at the end and Natasha could only shake her head thinking to herself, 'Am I getting too attached to this person? Why?'

Giving each other a small wave Natasha finally started to move off and head towards avengers tower. Peter didn't know what she really did for a living and she had told him that she consulted for some corporation's on business decisions. So whenever her shield missions forced her to leave the country, to take out a target, they would have a similar conversation.

Peter who was waving her goodbye had to stifle a groan as he slowly lowered his arm. He had been a little careless last night and been struck once or twice. With no sleep for the whole night and Natasha on the bench by the time he got here, he had no chance to get a proper sleep. He was dead tired right now.

Peter gazed at the redheads back and thought of the other redhead that used to be in his life. She had left such a long time ago, when was it? Before or after I got my powers, Peter honestly couldn't remember when she had left, but it would have been nice to see a friendly face. But then if she had stayed, would she have died to? It was something he would constantly think about after meeting Natasha.

Shaking his head and moving his body to rest, it wasn't long before he fell asleep.

(10 Years ago)

Peter tinkered with something on his computer as it couldn't be seen what he was doing. If anyone was to stand behind him they would see that he was typing in some type of code. With a small book on 'programming for dummies' off to the side it would surprise most people that a kid at such a young age could understand and program on a computer.

And from the looks of the code that was flying by on the computer screen it was very complicated. A few little notes from a diary page were off to the side as he continued to type on the keyboard, one word could be seen bolded and highlighted in the page. 'Crystal'. He wasn't that fasts because of his size, and he took his time to press each key, but he was steadily working towards something.

Behind him the door was slightly ajar and a couple stood on the other side talking. Every now and then the woman would peek through the crack in the door to make sure everything was alright, of course both of them had no clue what Peter was doing.

"I don't know if keeping him cooped up after what happened is a good idea May" Ben parker spoke to his wife quietly as he didn't want to disturb whatever Peter was doing in his room. It was just recently that his brother Richard and his wife died in a plane crash, and left them with their only son.

He as the brother was distraught over the news and he couldn't imagine how nephew would be taking it. They had tried to soften the blow, but Peter was scarily smart for his age. Ben was sure he would figure out what truly happened after a while. Peter had already become quieter after receiving the news, and now he was keeping himself locked in his room working on something on his computer.

Both he and May couldn't understand what he was doing, but they had left him alone for now the. It was better that he kept his mind off the accident. "Hush" May who was peeking in the room pressed a finger to her lips and turned to her husband. Turning back to look through the crack in the door she stayed like that for another few minutes. Finally after a while and seeing that peter wasn't going to do anything but type away on his computer she turned back to Ben and they walked down stairs.

*Sigh* Ben let out a small sigh of regret as he tried to think of something they could do to cheer up the kid. May having lived with him for so many years could practically read his mind, and because of this she gave him a small smile placing her hands on his shoulder. She already had a plan in motion!

Ben gave her a quizzical stare as he looked at her radiant smile. "You know the new neighbor that just moved in next door?" Ben though for a few seconds before nodding his head. They had a small talk to the people that just moved in, they were a nice pair of people.

Mays' smile grew bigger as she explained what she had in store. "Well they have a daughter, a cute little thing. I've already organized a play date today between her and Peter! A new friend is exactly what he needs! And she looks like such a sweet girl, beautiful red hair." Ben stiffened in shock for a second before he started to think about it, it would be great for Peter to leave his room and make new friends. "How long till they come over?" May patted his shoulder and started to move up the stairs. "A few minutes. I'll go get Peter ready."

Ben was shocked once again, he looked at the clock hanging on the wall and quickly went around making sure everything was ready for their arrival, he had to have the house looking nice for guests. He slightly lamented in his mind though how his wife always sprung these kinds of things on him.

(9 Minutes later)

*Ding dong*

The bell to the front of the house rang as Ben went to get the door. May had just come down the stairs, Peter in tow, wearing a nice shirt and pants. Giving one last look at the pair Ben gripped the door knob and opened the door.

Peter didn't listen to much of what was being said as he was unceremoniously dragged down the stairs, much to his protest. He was so close to finishing! But Aunt May wouldn't take no for an answer. As he looked at the floor in front of him not listening to what was happening around him, suddenly a small pair of shoes arrived in front of him.

Raising an eyebrow Peter looked up slowly taking in the person before him. There was a girl around the same age as him with flowing Red hair, she wore a summer green dress and small hat. Her looks were like nothing the young boy had seen before. He felt his heart slightly speed up as he looked at the green eyes in front of him.

Not having talked to another person in a few days he wasn't sure of what to say. In the end he just said the first thing that came to his mind. "Hi, my names Peter." The girl gave him a radiant smile and Peter could have sword he saw something flicker in her eyes as she replied in kind. "Hi my names…"

(Present)

Peter woke up slowly as he felt a few of the bruises he had been lying on. His mind drifted for a second to the dream he just had, the first day he met her. Haven't thought about that in a long time. It was also around that time that I finished…

Peter shook his head and got up from the bench, it was close to 10am, not the best sleep. "Time to go to the pool and clean myself" Talking to himself he moved slowly away from the bench.

Chapter end