The Spy and the Spider

[has_conviction]

 It was times like these Coulson hated his job. He'd been impaled in the chest with a spear, and his brother-in-law, who he'd actually liked, had just been killed-in-action. All that, and he still had to work. Such is the life of a SHIELD agent. 

Recently, Dr. Curtis Connors had transformed himself in to some kind of giant lizard, and had rampaged through New York, attempting to transform the rest of the world into creatures like him. He was stopped not by the Avengers, but some newcomer to the superhero game. Spider-Man. Real Name: Peter Parker. He was young, but he had potential. Potential that needed to be monitored, and guided in a positive direction. That's why Agent Coulson was in the guidance office of Midtown High School, waiting for Mr. Parker to show up, eating one of those big soft pretzels you get from a cart on the corner. He loved those.

Comments

[slingsandusesbing]

"Someone wanted to see me?" Peter said, poking his head into the office. He'd already finished his community service hiurs and hadn't done anything to earn any more, so he wasn't sure why he'd been pulled out of class.

[has_conviction]

Coulson looks up from Peter's file, closing it as Peter's head pokes in. "Yes, please, come in." He said, giving a friendly smile. He's obviously not the usual guidance councilor though.

"Don't worry. You're not in trouble."

[slingsandusesbing]

"Didn't think I was. Where's the usual counselor?"mPeter asked, closing the door, taking a seat, and dropping his bookbag next to it.

[has_conviction]

"I've asked him to step out for a little while. My name is Agent Phil Coulson, I represent SHIELD." He says, putting down the pretzel for a moment to pull out his badge.

"We'd like to discuss some of your ... recent activities." He says, sounding like he's been reading off a script until now. He's done this whole recruitment thing a few times, and it's starting to become routine.

[slingsandusesbing]

It took a few seconds for that to sink in, and a few more seconds for Peter to actually get words out.

"...I'm beginning to think the mask is completely pointless."

[has_conviction]

"Don't feel bad, it's kind of hard to keep secrets from us." Coulson says with a little smile. He likes something about this kid.

"But you've definitely impressed some important people in subduing Dr. Connors. I'm assuming you know about the Avengers, Mr. Parker?"

[slingsandusesbing]

Peter looked at Coulson like he had just said something extremely obvious. Which he had.

"There was a giant alien invasion in the middle of the city. I'd have to have been living under a rock in, I dunno, the middle of the Sahara to not have heard about the Avengers."

And then what Coulson said hit him "...you don't mean...are you here to recruit me? I mean, that'd be...ridiculously awesome, but don't you guys have, like, minimum age requirements

[has_conviction]

"We do, and I don't think your Aunt would sign the consent form." He replied, the omni-present edge of snark clear in his voice.

"However, we do think you have a lot of potential."

[slingsandusesbing]

Peter chuckled at that. "You'd be right. She doesn't even like my skateboard. Imagine how she'd react to me picking fights with alien armadas."

"And potential's...good. I guess in this case it means "We'll be watching you just in case you screw up"?"

[has_conviction]

"More or less." Coulson says with a slight nod. "Given the availability of our consultants, it may be a mentoring thing, but we're still working out the details."

[slingsandusesbing]

"Can I make a request?" Peter said, realizing a very interesting opportunity was opening up before him. "If Dr. Banner and Mr. Stark get up to any science shenanigans, I want in."

[has_conviction]

"Given that they're consultants, I can't guarantee anything, but I can put in a good word for you. I'm sure Mr. Stark, would be willing to give someone so promising an internship or something."

[slingsandusesbing]

He furrowed his brow, thinking of something.

"...don't suppose you could put in a good word for Gwen Stacy too? It is kinda my fault she lost the internship with Oscorp and all."

[has_conviction]

That puts a warm feeling in Coulson's heart. It was touching. You can almost register it in the slight smile on his face.

"That can be taken care of." He says with a nod. "Is she doing alright since her father's ... passing?" Coulson asks.

[slingsandusesbing]

"As well as can be expected, I guess. Not great, but things're getting better."

"...of course, that's a little more concern for her than I'd expect from a secret agent. Not that it's a bad thing, just, y'know, odd?"

[has_conviction]

"Well, I think it's acceptable to be concerned for my niece."

[slingsandusesbing]

There was really only one thing to say to that.

"So you're an Uncle Phil then." Peter said with a grin.

[has_conviction]

"Cute." Phil said, and you can almost hear the urge to groan in his tone. He saw that coming a mile away.

"I'm glad she's okay." He'd talked to her, but she'd probably tell her boyfriend more than her uncle.

Back to business. "We'll be contacting you through this." Agent Coulson says, producing a small satellite phone, the latest in military hardware.

[slingsandusesbing]

"Oh cool. Very very cool." Peter grabbed it, looking it over.

"...What's the reception on this thing like? 'Cuz I've had to spend more time in the sewers than anyone really should over the past few weeks, and I'll probably have to go down there again eventually."

[has_conviction]

"6G connectivity to government telecom satellites. We could reach you 2 miles underground." Yes, you heard him right. 6G. You don't spend billions in R&D without figuring a few things out.

[slingsandusesbing]

"Okay, definitely awesome." He said, grinning.

"Anything else I need to know?"

[has_conviction]

"Just a warning. Treat my niece well. Because I know where you live." Then he gives a smile, that lands dead between 'I'll kill you if you hurt her', and 'I'm kidding.' Still, it's somehow friendly at the same time. Then, he turns to the door, "We'll be in touch." Before leaving