Can't believe it's been a year since I last updated. On the plus side, I am actually updating.

Thanks for all of the support. I really had meant to update a lot sooner, but I started a new job which I actually like, I'm volunteering at the weekend and taking a language class on top of it. So my free time is mostly taken up with catching up on sleep. But I am trying to get back into the habit of updating at least more than once a year.

The next chapter will be longer, I guarantee it. And I have been wanting to include Sam (because he's awesome), Bucky (same reason) and others. I'll also be including more Wade.

Please enjoy!

By the time Peter meets Lucky for the third time, he's got a pretty good escape plan all planned out. Of course, as with most hypothetical plans, it fails miserably about three seconds in. But in his defence, he'd forgotten he'd put his backpack down by his chair. So of course in his haste to escape the overly enthusiastic mutt, this time covered in a substance he really doesn't want to know any more about, he goes flying after only one step. The only good part about his humiliating defeat, in full view of most of Stark Industries he might add, is that no one actually knows who he is. At best they know him as one of the interns, multiple in number but faceless until they prove themselves. As for Tony and Bruce, possibly the only ones who know him by name, last he heard, Tony's off in Malibu and Bruce, well with any luck he's holed up in his lab. He's just hoping Jarvis hasn't recorded him again.

"You know, he really likes you. You haven't been working on some pheromone shit or something, have you?"

Peter groans, spluttering as Lucky takes the opportunity to give him a tongue bath. Gagging at the smell and whatever the dog's done to himself this time, he manages a half-hearted glare at the archer grinning down at him. "Do I even want to know what he's covered in?"

Clint winces in response. Peter takes that as a no.

"Right. And do I want to know how he found me? You didn't put a tracking chip in my bag, did you?" He is, or was, SHIELD after all. He wouldn't put it past them.

"Nah. No need when we have Lucky. Like I said, he must really like you. One minute we were chowing down in the cafeteria, the next he's off like a shot and here we are. They say dogs are good judges of character, apparently you've got one hell of a character". At that, Lucky barks in agreement. "See?"

"Uh, okay. Well I'm just gonna go…" It's a little alarming when Lucky suddenly starts growling at that.

"What is it boy?" As soon as Clint kneels down, Lucky barks, swinging his head between the two of them, before letting out a mournful whine. "Do you actually have work to do, or were you just wanting to get out of here? It's just, not a lot of people like Lucky too much. I think he really wants to be friends with you".

What is he supposed to say to that? I mean really? How is he supposed to get out of it without sounding like a complete douche? Clearly he's not.

"Are you gonna break his little heart?" Clint pouts.

Peter's not falling for it. Hell, he can see the bastard smirking as soon as the dog's looking away. Of course, there's not a lot he can do about it. Especially not when Lucky creeps forward, resting his head on his lap and giving the world's saddest puppy look. Which considering he only has one eye, just makes it that much sadder.

"You're a dick, you know that?"

Of course he does.

Sighing out of frustration, Peter admits defeat. "Fine. I'll stay".

Clint, the smug bastard that he is, goes so far as to cheer, throwing in a little victory dance for the hell of it. And yes, everyone is still watching them. Not even plotting the man's death, with graphic and rather inventive detail he might add, is enough to stop him from wanting to crawl away and hide. Not to mention he really needs a shower now.

Without realising it, Peter realises he's been scratching behind Lucky's ear. Of course he only realises it after the mutt's leg starts tapping against the ground, flinging more of whatever it is that's coating him, around. And now some of the other staff are glaring at him. Great.

"Well since you'll be hanging with Lucky and me, you can help me give him a ba-" Clint doesn't even get to finish before Lucky's off like a shot.

Naturally, this is the moment Peter ends up embarrassing himself even further. He's like ninety percent sure it's pure instinct, but as soon as the dog started moving, he's already tackling him to the ground. Him, resident intern and secret Spider-Man, tackling a one eyed mutt to the ground. Thank god his secret identity is still, you know, a secret. God, he can only imagine what the press would do to him. Hell, he doesn't need to imagine, Jameson would probably have a field day if he ever found out about it. Which he won't. Ever.

Clint's eyes grow wide, before giving what sounds like a snort. But that can't be right. Peter's the awkward one here. Superheroes aren't supposed to snort, right? Well clearly Clint didn't get the memo.

"Nice reflexes kid. You sure you want to stick with Tony and his lab rats? We could use someone that fast out in the field" Clint grins.

"Uh, no. No, it's cool. I'm cool. No I mean thanks! But uh, you know no thanks. I mean-". Much to Peter's mortification, Clint doesn't seem too interested in helping him out. He almost seems to enjoy watching him make an ass of himself. Typical.

Finally, after an agonising moment with him stammering and frantically looking for a distraction, Clint seems to take pity on him. "Right. Suit yourself. But you're still gonna help give Lucky a bath, right?"

Seeing no way out of it, Peter nods. The whine Lucky gives, one filled with sorrow and mourning, is almost enough for Peter to let the poor thing go. It's obvious neither of them want to do it, and for a brief moment, Peter feels his resolve breaking. Unluckily for both of them, Clint's not so easily swayed.

With a grunt, Clint hoists Lucky into his arms, seemingly ignorant of the way the dog thrashes around, trying to make his escape. With a single look, Peter finds himself trailing after the man, hyper aware of the stares and snickers that follow them. It really is like being back in high school again. But hey, at least this time he's getting paid for going through this torture.

In the elevator, Peter stands in the corner. While Clint had previously been full of smiles and laughter, now he's just staring at him, even as Lucky whines and squirms. It's unsettling.

"So…" Peter tries and fails to start a conversation. For someone who is usually full of clever quips and smart ass remarks, at least when the mask is on, you'd think he'd be better at this. Well no, no he's not. As a matter of fact, he's sorta terrible at this. God if Wade could only see him now. He'd probably be laughing his ass off at his total inability to be cool.

"So how's this thing with Stark going? Blown anything up yet?" Clint asks, clearly taking pity on his inability to start a conversation.

Yes. Like five times. Only two of which were by accident. Of course he doesn't actually say that. No use in giving the guy more ammunition against him.

"Uh…" It's all Peter can think to say.

"So that's a yes" Clint smirks. Peter's never wanted to hit someone so badly in his life. Which considering who he's practically engaged to at this point; Wade's definition of courtship is vastly different from his own, it's saying a lot.

Thankfully the doors open, and Clint heads out before Peter has a chance to act on any of his more violent impulses. Not that he would of course.

Now growing up, Peter never really had the things a lot of people take for granted. You know, things like parents, money, pets…it's the latter that he would have found particularly useful five minutes ago.

You see, some dogs love water. They can't get enough of it. But Lucky? Lucky doesn't. Or if he does, he sure has a funny way of showing it. As such, it really shouldn't come as a surprise when both he and Clint wind up wetter than the damn dog they were supposed to be washing. In the back of his mind, Peter wonders if this could be classed as some kind of hazing ritual. After all it's exhausting, embarrassing and he's fairly sure he's scarred for life from it. Hazing describes it quite nicely if you ask him. But whatever you want to call it, Peter vows to never get himself in that situation again. Or to ever get a dog for that matter, no matter how cute they are. He only hopes Wade feels the same way.

Of course Lucky couldn't be happier to get away from them both. Both armed with towels that are almost as wet as they are. In a scene strangely reminiscent of a bull fighter in the arena, the two find themselves doing little more than flapping their towels around as the dog races circles around them. It is of course at this moment that they're discovered. Parker luck at its finest.

"Dare I ask?" Natasha cocks an eyebrow at them, something Peter has secretly been wishing he could do. Not that he ever tried it. No definitely not. And certainly not in front of his mirror for half an hour, until Wade found him (and scared the absolute shit out of him he might add). On the plus side, Wade apparently wasn't considered a threat to him, no Spidey-Sense or anything. Yeah…he still wasn't sure if that could really be considered a plus side.

"I wouldn't" Peter replies. Wait…did he just say that out loud? Judging by the smirk on her face, that's a yes. Well shit.

"You're Stark's new prodigy, aren't you?"

He's what now? No, no way. No, there's no way that's him. No, she's totally got it wrong and holy shit…he's gotta tell Wade about this. As in like yesterday, because holy fuck!

Of course what he actually says, because he's been trying hard to act like an actual human being, is…"huh?" Usually his go to answer when something causes his brain to shut down.

"Uh no, I mean, I don't know. I mean he's-" cue his wild gesturing, "-and I'm-" more gesturing, albeit subdued this time, "-and Bruce is…" There's an actual pause as he waits for his brain to finally catch up with his mouth. It's quite possibly the longest three seconds of his life. Definitely the second most embarrassing. And no, he's not even gonna think about the most embarrassing three seconds of his life. Wade still hasn't let him live it down. "I'm just the intern" he sighs.

"Perhaps. But you're also interesting. Tony likes interesting. So does Bruce for that matter" Natasha replies.

By this point Peter doesn't know what to think. What he does know, is that by this point he's met basically five of the biggest stars in the superhero biz. Heck the only one of the original Avengers he hasn't met yet is Thor. But like that's ever gonna happen.

He absolutely does not shriek like a little girl as thunder suddenly crashes down around them, clearly on cue. And even if he did, which he didn't, he can always blame it on Lucky leaping on top of him in fright.

"My friends!"

Wade is never going to believe him.

Let me know what you think!

KB