Between Allies and Enemies

Fury didn't need to ask if Phil had already initiated the search for the energy's source—he knew better than to waste time on unnecessary questions since Phil must have already sent someone to find out about it.

" I thought the Tesseract was the only artifact we'd encounter. Something similar to it being on earth without the knowledge of SHIELD doesn't sit right with me." Fury said, his tone a low growl. "If the council finds out about this, they'll push even harder to transform the tesarract into a weapon."

Phil nodded, understanding Fury's concern. "A weapon powered by the Tesseract alone would already be dangerous enough, especially against opponents like the ones we've encountered." Phil was thinking of Thor, who had arrived the previous year. Fury understood well enough; if Thor had been an enemy, they would have had no way to counter him.

Fury considered the implications, then looked back at Phil. "Keep this energy's discovery quiet. The last thing I want is the council sticking their fingers into this."

"Sir, that could be difficult. Even though the ones I have sent are people i trust, the council members have their own people in SHIELD who will eventually find out." Phil replied cautiously. "The council's already on edge. They're not exactly thrilled with the project you proposed last year."

Fury's jaw tightened, but his response was steady. "I trust the Avengers Initiative more than any weapon they dream of. A weapon is just a tool; it can be turned on us if we're not careful. The Avengers, on the other hand, will have loyalty to the Earth—not the council's agendas."

Phil didn't argue. He simply gave a respectful nod and left the room, sensing the weight of Fury's words.

Fury sat for a few more seconds, his gaze lingering on Steve Rogers' file. Eventually, he picked it up, murmuring, "A team led by you may be our only hope, Cap."

He opened a drawer in his desk, revealing a row of identical flip phones. Picking one up, he dialed a number. After a few rings, a voice answered on the other end.

"Hello?" a familiar voice answered, calm and melodic.

"Romanoff. Meet me at the park at three." Fury's tone left no room for negotiation. He snapped the phone shut, breaking it in half, and tossed it into the waste bin beside his desk.

Next Morning – Parker Residence

Jared's POV

The late-night practice had paid off. Right now, I could make basic shapes with water—nothing too detailed or lasting more than a minute, but it was progress. This morning, though, I sat at the table, waiting for Aunt May to finish up breakfast.

When I finally cracked open a textbook, I was relieved. While Peter was definitely the family's top-tier nerd, it turned out I wasn't too shabby in school myself—above average, at least.

Aunt May turned from the kitchen counter, bringing two plates of scrambled eggs and toast to the table. She cast a glance toward Peter's room and called, "What's taking you so long, Peter?"

Within seconds, Peter came out, looking bewildered. "Did I leave my school bag at home yesterday?"

Aunt May raised an eyebrow. "Peter, how could anyone forget an entire bag?"

I stifled a chuckle. "It's in my room, Peter. You left it there last night."

His face shifted as realization hit him, and he quickly dashed to my room.

Twenty minutes later, Peter and I were in the car with Aunt May, who was dropping us off at school on her way to work. From what I'd pieced together, the insurance left by my parents was more than enough to cover us, but Aunt May hadn't wanted to give up her career entirely. She worked at a marketing agency, usually from home, giving her flexibility to keep an eye on us.

After a short drive, we arrived at Midtown Science High School. Aunt May looked back, an amused expression on her face. "Want me to walk you boys in? Maybe meet some of your teachers?"

I opened the car door and stepped out before she could finish. Peter followed suit, both of us sparing ourselves from that embarrassment.

"See you later, Aunt May," I called, closing the door. She smiled, waved, and drove off. Peter, however, seemed a little distant, lingering on the curb.

"What's up? You looked like you wanted to tell me something yesterday." I tried to catch his eye, raising an eyebrow.

3rd Person POV

Pulled from his thoughts, Peter looked at his older brother. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking about, um… schoolwork."

Jared narrowed his eyes, his tone shifting to something unusually serious. "Walk with me, Peter," he said, striding toward the school entrance.

Peter had never seen his brother be this serious before, and he followed quietly. As they walked, Jared glanced over at him. "There are only two reasons I can think of for that look. Either you're dealing with a bully or… there's a girl you like and can't talk to her. So, which is it?"

Peter's eyes widened, and he quickly looked away. For a few seconds, he was speechless. The brother he'd thought was aloof seemed to read him perfectly.

After a deep breath, Peter answered. "Both actually. There's a new girl in class, Liz Allan. I'd like to talk to her, but I don't know how—especially with Flash getting in my face every time." He grimaced at the thought of his loud-mouthed classmate.

Jared's face eased slightly. "So, Flash is bothering you?". A bully like Flash was something Peter would overcome on his own so Jared had no reason to worry about it.

Peter shook his head. "Not exactly. He's just… irritating. We take digs at each other all the time, so it's not really bullying. But… Professor Morris is another story. He's had it out for me since the start of the semester. The last paper I turned in, he gave me a C. And when I asked him why, he said it was because of dad. He told me that our father ruined his life, and he'd make sure he ruined ours too."

'Professor Morris?' Jared thought, his mind racing. 'What does this guy have against our father? I don't remember any professor like that.'

He kept his tone even. "I don't have any classes with Professor Morris. But listen, ignore him for now. If he pulls the same stunt on your final grade, we'll report him to the principal or talk to the school counselor. He's not worth your stress."

Peter nodded, some relief in his expression. Jared continued, "As for Liz, you need to stand out. Do something that'll set you apart—as long as it doesn't get you suspended."

Peter chuckled a little, grateful for the advice as heading off to class with a more relaxed step.

Jared watched his brother walk away, an amused smile on his face. 'In my old life, it was all about being the best and playing hard to get. Guess Peter will have to start small,' he mused.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city…

In a high-rise office overlooking New York, Fury sat at his desk, flipping through a dossier on Steve Rogers. The sight of Cap's file reminded him of why he believed in the Avengers Initiative, and why he had chosen to trust them over any weapon the council could fund.

The door to the office creaked open, and Phil Coulson entered, carrying a new report.

"We're narrowing down the source of that energy, but there's one problem," Coulson said, his tone measured.

Fury didn't look up. "Let me guess—the council's already sniffing around?"

Phil's silence was answer enough.

Fury put the file down, sighing. "If they knew, they'd push even harder for weaponization. I'd rather have someone on my team who'll stand for something. Get me Romanoff's full report by this afternoon. And Phil…" Fury's voice softened slightly. "Make sure she's aware of any leads from the council's side." Fury didn't want an important asset like Romanoff to be compromised because the council is too ambitious.

With a nod, Phil turned to leave. Fury watched him go, then cast another glance at Steve Rogers' file. He didn't need soldiers blindly following orders—he needed allies who could think for themselves and for others.

As he closed the file, Fury murmured to himself, "If I'm right about you, Cap, you'll be the one leading them. Let's hope they're as ready for this as I am."

Back at Midtown Science High School, Peter sat at his desk, finally feeling like he'd found a small place of support. Jared's unexpected understanding had lifted some of his anxiety, even if he still had a long way to go.

The day passed uneventfully for the most part. But behind the scenes, across New York City, agents, council members, and those very few Fury trusted were working. Each was playing their part, unaware of just how intertwined their lives would become in the days ahead.

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