After several hours of tense waiting, and scolding's from Tony about the state of his arms. Rogers and the rest of the team arrived back at the tower.

Peter made sure to pull his mask back on as he sized-up the newcomers. A man with a visor, a boy a few years older than himself that looked as if he was made of ice, a blue man-beast, a chick with gloves and a white streak in her hair, and a burly, angry-looking man.

"We appreciate letting us use your tower for our base until this conference is over." The blue one said, holding out a giant paw to Tony. Tony looked at it but quickly deflected the handshake into a motioning gesture. Peter was glad he was wearing the mask, it hid the grin, Tony didn't like handshakes or being handed anything.

"Of course, please come this way, I have set up a lab just for you Professor McCoy. I trust you were able to secure the senator in time?"

Peter wanted to follow them, but Steve caught his eye. The man nodded towards the exit. He respected that the Captain wanted a word, so he followed without complaint. Only once the elevator opened on the Avengers floor did he speak.

"Pete, me and others were talking and we don't want you swinging around the city until this situation is handled. The place is swarming with anti-mutant protestors, armed security, government agents and God knows who else. It is too dangerous for a well-meaning Spider to be out there. If any one of those agencies got a hold of you, I fear you would be nothing more then a test subject!"

Peter reached up and pulled his mask off with a sigh just as Natasha approached them.

"He is right baby-spider, it is too dangerous. But don't you worry, if anyone ever tries to take you, I will make sure they burn before any of their tools ever touched you!"

Peter gulped a little at her intensity, knowing she meant it. She kissed his forehead before heading back to the kitchen area.

"I don't want to make you guys worry. I don't. But the city isn't just going to shut down because there are new whack-o's in town. I'd be skirting my responsibility, and why? Because I am a coward who runs and hides when things get a little sticky?" His face was pulled in frustration and pleading but Steve stood firm.

"The city survived long before Spiderman and will still be here when Spiderman hits the streets again in a couple days. No vigilante stuff until this anti-mutant conference is done!"

"But I'm not even a mutant." Peter huffed, flopping dramatically back on a near by sofa. To busy brooding he didn't see the slight grin on the Captain's face.

"Come on. I will give you a ride home. I am sure you want to be there when your Aunt gets up."

That brought Peter out of his mood real quick. It was getting on to three in the morning.

"Oh Geeze! Yes. If you aren't going to let me swing home then a ride will have to do." He paused looking slightly guilty. "I kind of wanted to see Tony before I left."

"Tomorrow. Come on."

With a firm hand on his shoulder Peter couldn't put up much of a fight. Once he was changed into his normal clothes Steve forced him into a motorcycle helmet and plopped him on the back of his bike.

Beside from swinging, a motorcycle was a best way to get through the city. Now that he was officially sixteen years and three hours old, maybe he could convince to Captain or Bucky to teach him how to drive one.

The fact it was his birthday did not escape him, but he felt a little awkward just blurting out it was his birthday and the Avengers had bigger things to worry about, so he promised he would ask them next week.

Steve parked in the alley outside Peter's apartment building allowing the teen plenty of cover to scale the wall back into his bedroom.

Peter slept a whopping three hours before he heard May get up to start getting ready for her shift at the hospital.

He slid into one of the kitchen chairs, watching her hum and sway as she poured herself a coffee to start her day. As she turned she nearly jumped a foot off the ground.

"Peter! Good lord, I didn't hear you get up! Why are you up at this early hour?"

"Sorry aunt May, just wanted to see you off for work. By the look of the news you are going to have a busy day."

"Mmm." She frowned deeply. "Yes I saw, and they already phoned me twice for overtime!"

Peter nodded, knowing she would take it, because she felt the need to do everything herself and refused to let him and his intern paycheck go towards anything like rent. He got up and gave her a hug.

"I understand. Don't worry, I am gonna be here when you get off, apartment cleaned and supper ready."

"Aww thank you sweetie." She turned to leave but paused and opened a nearby cupboard, tossing him a small wrapped package. "Before I go, I want to see you open that. Didn't think I could forget my sweet boys sixteenth birthday did you?"

Peter grinned wide and opened it. The simple black frame held a picture of two people, smiling back. The quality wasn't great and the edges were a bit worn, but there they were clear as day.

"Took me awhile to find anyone that had a picture of them together." May smiled.

Peter sat heavily on the chair, Richard and Mary Parker staring back at him from the frame. He remembered very few details about his parents, since he was so young when their plane crashed, but now that he saw them looking back at him he could swear he could smell his fathers aftershave, and though the faded picture didn't show them very well, the vivid green of his mother's eyes.

"May …" It didn't happen very often, but the young superhero was at a lose for words. She hugged him deep and with love.

"Happy birthday my boy." She kissed the top of his head. "There is a cake in the fridge just for you. Try and save me a piece for tonight, ok?"

"You got it May."

Lost in thought for about an hour Peter finally came out of it. He set the frame carefully on his bedside table and pulled out his phone.

Morning! U around today? – Peter

Helping the x-men with their problem. But I could use a smart intern for some logistics – Tony

OMW! Bus is gonna take forever but I told C I wouldn't get there my normal way till this blows over – Peter

Good! Be safe! – Tony

Peter grabbed a shower and got dressed. Jeans and a science pun t-shirt, and a zip up sweater that hid his web-shooters. No need to go anywhere unprepared.

The bus was agonizingly slow. It did give Peter a chance to see the rally goers close up. Most were respectful, and that was from either side, but each side had their radicals. It was a group of the former that got on the bus looking for trouble.

Peter sat back in his seat, one headphone on to try and keep the noise to an acceptable level; the city sounds sometimes over stimulated his senses and he had to take steps to keep from freaking out sometimes. Even with the music in one ear there was no mistaking the radical, racist slurs being thrown around. Nor did it stop him from watching the group zero in on a slim, young woman carrying a grocery bag and sporting an equal rights pin.

It took about two minutes before he had heard enough. Looking every bit the nerdy kid he was he approached the group and cleared his throat.

"Sorry to interrupt this fascinating peek into a uneducated man's take on mutagenesis but I don't believe she got in your face, screaming that her way is the only way of thinking, so I don't know why you think it is right that you do that to her."

"Beat it pipsqueak! This is none of your business!" He paused and looked down at Peter. "Unless you're one of those mutant loving nutsacks! Is that it? You think those freaks deserve to take everything that is ours? We are the Church of Humanity and we are here to make sure HUMAN's come first!"

"They are human. Be it a gene or by some external factor that made them a bit different, they are still human. And all humans deserve their basic rights."

There was a burst of applause from some on the bus before the massive man snarled and lunged forward. Peter wasn't about to display his powers for all to see, even though he meant what he said he didn't believe that everyone would be so understanding when actually face to face with a superpower, so instead he relied on Natasha's hand to hand training.

A little boost in his speed and strength was ok, but the techniques she had showed him were designed to work for any size defender against any size attacker.

In the middle of the commotion the bus lurched to a stop throwing everyone forward.

Police came in both doors and started pulling about the combatants.

"Come on. Everyone off the bus!" The officer closest to Peter bellowed.

Peter sighed and followed the rest off the bus. After giving a statement he was sent on his way, free to walk the rest of the way to Avengers tower.

Walking was definitely not the way to get through the city when one was used to swinging.

On his way he came across a large pro-rights demonstration. He was picking his way through when his spidey-sense blared. Whipping around a shady figure caught his eye, straightening from a makeshift platform.

Following his gut Peter jogged over to the spot the man had just left, there was nothing out of the ordinary so he kneeled down to look underneath.

It was the size of a large textbook, and the digital timer was counting down from one minute.

With stomach suddenly in his throat Peter looked around at all the people, there wasn't time to disarm it.

"Bomb! He screamed at the top of his lungs, waving his arms to get their attention. "Bomb!" It was enough to get people moving but there was no clearing the blast radius if he didn't do something. Still screaming 'bomb' he did the only thing he could think of. He grabbed the bomb and bolted for a nearby alley that didn't have hundreds of people in it.

He had made two running steps into the alley before he reached back and threw the bomb. It detonated midair, the concussion wave tunneled off the walls and hit Peter full on, throwing him back towards the square along with anyone that was remotely close.

Everything slowed as Peter flew back, he could feel bones breaking, he hit the pavement with a dull thud, darkness creeping into his vision.

Tony was standing in his lab sipping a coffee with Professor McCoy when the news alert blared on the television.

"A pro-rights demonstration has been the target of a terriorist organization known as the Church of Humanity. Moments ago a bomb went off in the middle of a crowded square, three confirmed dead, but it would have been more if not for the brave actions of an unidentified young man. Be warned the following video is graphic."

A shaky video showed a large group with signs before off to the right there was screams and a familiar figure yelling bomb.

Tony watched in horror as the small form of Peter Parker tried to get the people away before grabbing the package and running. The camera followed as he tried to run.

He disappeared behind a building when it went off. The camera shook and when it straightend there were bodies laying everywhere.

"Oh no!" Tony breathed, Hank shook his head.

"It's a sad day."

But Tony was not paying attention.

"FRIDAY get Natasha and Steve, tell them Peter was in that square. Dispatch a drone to the area, and contact the hospitals. He can't go to the emergency room."

"Tony, Wolverine is close to there, do you want him on scene?"

"Yes. He is looking for Peter Parker, fifteen year old boy, messy brown hair, science t-shirt. He was the one that grabbed the bomb!"

Tony bolted, already calling his suit.

In the confusion no one took notice of a single figure calmly walking through the chaos.

She paused at the prone figure, intrigued that he was still breathing, albeit ragged, wet breaths caused but what was probably several broken ribs.

Ignoring what additional damage she did by lifting him up onto her shoulder she picked him up and walked away.