Arc Five. Chapter One Hundred Fifty. Trials And Tribulations

As they were vastly outnumbered and both Peter and Iron Man knew that Captain America was not just for show, they peacefully surrendered. As Tony was stepping out of his armour several agents wrapped it and the two drones in a strange metal cable and they both whined and powered down. Tony was about to voice some complaints when Captain America shook his head at him and another Agent handed him papers, which after reading and scowling, he signed.

“You know my lawyers are going to have a field day with that, seizing my armour is still theft, no matter how well you wrap it up,” but Cap shook his head,

“I’m only here to make sure you behave, Mr Stark, the rest is up to the suits,” and motioning to one of the ATV’s the pair were led away.

Tony and Peter were sat in cells next to each other, and while Peter was laying on the soft as a rock bed, Tony was sat glaring at him.

As Fury walked in, bringing behind him a guilty-looking Liv, he motioned to a cell and she meekly walked inside.

“Well, thanks to you three, as I can’t throw Ross in here as well, the WSC signed the last of the accords and you’re all now criminals.” Liv sat down while Fury closed the jail door behind her and Peter moved over from his bed and held her hand through the bars.

“Liv? Are you alright?”

“I'm fine dear, just dealing with pests at home.”

Fury cleared his throat but Peter glared at him,

“Yeah, you're in a cell Parker, that won't work.“ but Peter still shrugged

“It’s not a very good cell, so what do you want? I doubt that this could hold either me or Liv and while he is a jackass, Tony Stark in jail? Yeah, that’ll hold until Pepper Potts hears about it and then you’re in the shit.”

Nick smiled and pulled out a folding chair from behind the guard station, unfolding it he sat backwards in it, leaning his arms on the backrest.

“This is how it's going to go down. Mr Stark, the drone you so kindly donated to us, plus the upgrades you’re providing to Shields fleet will pay for the damages, and you get the capture reward for Venom,” and when Peter began to complain Fury raised a hand,

“Dr Octavius, we seem to have come into possession of our very own Iron Man armoured suit, and your punishment will be to outfit it for us and provide our engineers with the relevant know-how to fix and upgrade it.“ and Liv nodded.

“And you, Mr Parker, well, technically you were an agent but the Accords now state using your powers without authorisation is an automatic cryosleep sentence, but here's my thinking. Venom is wanted, Peter is not, you become an official agent, maybe change your costume and Venoms on ice but you’re free.”

“Free to be a jackass,” Tony butted in but Fury stared at him,

“You know I can have you put in cryosleep as well Mr Stark. The Iron Man suit is military-grade, and that's very very illegal, well, now it is anyway, but, a lot of goodwill goes a long way. So I don't care what he did to piss you off. I don't care if he slept with Pepper Potts, and yes, thanks to you everyone knows. Oh and if you think prison is bad, I hear she’s been waiting for you to get released, and that's a conversation I would pay to watch. So, be quiet, or I’ll release you right now into her very capable but very angry hands.” and Tony sat back down and leaned back against the wall, covering his face with his hands. If Pepper had heard what he said he knew that he might not be able to sweet talk his way out of this.

“Change your costume, and Peter Parker is free.” Nick leaned back and spread his arms with a smile.

“But not Venom?” and Fury shook his head, “but I’m Venom, it's, you know, like renaming Iron Man, Tin Can Man, it's just not right.” and Tony snorted and rolled his eyes in the cell next to his.

Fury shook his head, “I don’t care, I really don't. I don't care if you put a paper bag on your head and call yourself the bombastic bag man, but if you don't want jail time then Venom dies, right here, right now. Your call, but let me remind you, Mr Parker, if Peter is outed as Venom, your Aunt and Doctor Connors become very public figures.”

As Fury spoke Peter stood and walked to the bars, “I’m playing nice Director, don't make me angry, you won’t like me when I'm angry.”

Fury laughed, “come on kid, change your damn name and it all goes away, shit,“ and he shook his head. “Look, it's not forever, Venom has a sentence, once it's over you can go back to the black and white, just let it blow over. Here even I’ll sweeten the deal. Wanda Maximov. She was picked up at the warehouse with Dr Octavious and is being held here in a separate part of the building. Free pass, nice papers, and a Shield job, all riding on you.”

“Fine, but I want to see Stark being released to Pepper.” and Fury laughed. 

“Don't we all?”

Tony looked over at the pair and snorted in derision, even he wasn’t looking forward to seeing Pepper again.

Fury nodded to the agents guarding the cells and they came and unlocked them, motioning for the trio to exit but keeping the energy rifles trained on them the whole time.

“Stark, you go with Agent Coulson here, and he’ll be your liaison with Shield, and you two. Dr Octavious, your shadow will be Agent Rumlow, while you Mr Parker are coming with me.”

Peter noted the shortish man, he recognised him as the one talking to Pepper at the Iron Man interview and he nodded at him politely. As Liv was led away by a very muscular agent in full tactical gear, Fury took Peter through the office floors and into his office at the top of Shield headquarters, where to his surprise Nat and Wanda were just talking, each with a coffee and cookies sat next to them.

“Under arrest my ass,” Peter said, and Fury shrugged.

“Just said she was here, anything else is on you.”

Nat stood and she smiled as she hugged Peter, “So, what's the new name then?” and he frowned and half-heartedly shrugged.

“More interested in what's going on here,” and as Fury took off his coat and sat down behind his desk he sighed. “Didn’t get me one huh?” but Nat shrugged and sat back down.

“How was I supposed to know you’d drag Liv down to a cell and then release her, just for show,” and Peter scowled.

Sighing and hitting the intercom, “Two coffees please,” Fury lent back. “To answer your question Mr Parker, you’re going to Shield academy. While brawling in the street isn’t exactly the behaviour we look for in an agent, you’ll get a pass this time, but only this time. Natasha gave you a glowing report and while Ms Maximov and you did destroy several million dollars worth of equipment, you did also discover a small problem that needs to be taken care of. All in all, other than the little show with Stark, I’d recommend you both for agent right now, but the security council has a bug up its butt about it. So instead it's the academy for a year or two, and then fieldwork. Natasha here is being assigned as your supervisor, so, pass the course, that's it,” and as Fury smiled and gestured open arms, Peter shook his head.

“All that for this? You could have just asked.” and Fury laughed but leant forwards, a serious look coming over his face.

“I did, and you were supposed to behave yourself, but your fight was uploaded to the internet, so we can’t use Venom as a public figure anymore. Someone uploaded that little rant of Tony’s as well, and now Pepper Potts is an internet celebrity, and Tony Stark going off the rails over it is almost as popular. You fucked up, and now, you have to pay.” Fury leant back and almost reached for his secret stash, remembering that Peter and Wanda were both only 19. “In fact, you fucked up so badly that not it’s just you on the WSC’s radar. Dr Octavious is now under contract with Shield, and the only reason Ms Stacy, Ms Hardy, and Ms Watson aren't in here with you, is that they weren't at the warehouse when it was attacked and-” but Peter shot to his feet interrupting him,

“What!” Peter spat through gritted teeth. “Who the fuck attacked my home?” and as his fist clenched Natasha lay a hand on his shoulder,

“It wasn't us. The military found Doctor Octavious and pulled their own bullshit to drag her in, but it's fine. We were already monitoring you all just in case another Oscorp situation arose and we got our agents there in time. There were no casualties and the damage was minimal. Liv was impressive, you should be proud.”

Peter shook his head, “it’s not fine, why the fuck did the military attack Liv, and under what law? The army isn’t allowed to operate on-” and it was Furys turn to interrupt

“Yeah, that's on you too. Oscorp, Goblin, and Venom, plus the little stunt in Sokovia, and then Stark gave them the authority. Times are changing Mr Parker, Enhanced are more common and each agency is scrambling to assemble their own teams, Ross included. You’re just damn lucky she’s enhanced as well, I take it they all are?”

But Peter shook his head, “no, not a word until I know everyone is safe, not a single thing until I have someone’s head on a fucking plate. I'm tired of the bullshit, you're playing games and it's my ass on the line, immunity and full immunity, not this ‘oh you're protected but only from us’ bullshit I keep getting.”

Fury looked at Nat who shrugged but then nodded,

“Fine.” Fury reached into a desk drawer and put two glasses on the desk, a moment later a bottle of scotch appeared and then a small box, a humidor and as he opened it, a light inside came on and as he rolled a cigar between his teeth he lit it and took a draw.

Blowing smoke out, up and at a camera, in the corner, Nat pressed a button on a small device as well and the room became deathly silent.

“We have two minutes. You were right, Shield has been infiltrated, but we don't know who and officially we have no way to find out. Your mission is in Shield academy, with Natasha as your sponsor, Wanda will be going in with you and your job will be to find out just how far whoever it is has infiltrated. Dr Octavious is working in the technical department and has already been briefed. The charges are real unfortunately and you do need another identity.” Fury took a breath and poured two glasses, nudging one over to Natasha. “A lot of this is bullshit, but we need the bullshit to hide the stink of the real op, once that light goes off, your choice is made and it's this or jail, you have about 30 seconds to decide.”

Peter didn't even pause, “with immunity for me and everyone, I don't care, I'm in.”

Nick nodded and Peter heard the click of the device again, as he poured two fingers of scotch into each glass he leant back and took another draw on the cigar. Peter, already having deadened his sense of smell, noticed that Natasha had a similar look on her face to his. Fury blew out a cloud of smoke and knocked the head from the cigar before handing over a glass to Natasha, “maybe next year,” he commented to Peter who shrugged.

Fury raised his glass and Natasha returned the gesture, gently tinking them together, “Well then. Once we fill out the paperwork and get you officially enrolled. You are officially a member of Sword Mr Parker, congratulations.''