NOVEL WEB Arc Fifteen. Chapter Four Hundred Thirty-Seven. Win The War
Peter was approached by what would be described in certain circles as a bear. A huge bearded man, with thick arms and a just as thick stomach, said, “So, I hear you are sleeping with my daughter?” He asked in a thick Russian accent, and Peter knew who this was.
“As often as I can,'' he answered glibly. Natasha had told him she cared about her father, but he was overbearing and overstepped all the time. If he did, Peter could be as embarrassing as he wanted, as long as he didn't get into great detail.
“Ha!” Alexei replied, “And you think you are man enough?” He took a pose and flexed his arms. “I am Red Guardian, a specimen of Russian perfection. Red Room Super-Soldier formula flows through my veins, like your Captain America. And you, you are small, like a boy, and puny, like a child.” He jabbed Peter in the shoulder with a finger. “You are not good enough.”
Peter raised an eyebrow and was about to respond, but a motherly older woman rolled her eyes. “Try not to hurt him too much.” She patted him on the shoulder and walked past him. Behind her, a shorter blonde woman looked him up and down, “Try not to kill him,” and she walked past as well.
“See, even my family can tell,” Alexei huffed proudly.
Peter stifled a laugh.“Uh I think they were talking to me,” he admitted.
Alexei scoffed. “Bah, I am in perfect condition. I even took a shield hit from Captain America and here I am, You may not like it,“ he bent one knee and flexed once again. “But this is peak Russian performance.”
“Yeah, well, I fought Red Hulk. Oh, and I can do this.” Peter stepped forward and grabbed Alexei by the waist. With one hand he lifted him up and over his head before putting him down. He leaned forward to the stunned Alexei and whispered, “Imagine what I do to Nat while I hold her like that." He grinned and patted him on the shoulder before he moved from the doorway.
May was talking to Melina and Yelena but tutted. “Peter, he is a veteran, and you should know better.”
Peter dipped his head and nodded. “Sorry, mom.”
May burst out laughing and leant over and whispered to Melina, “See, I told you,” and Melina nodded.
“It just means you raised him right.” She nodded at Natasha who rolled her eyes.
“So, Widow?” Peter asked, trying to move the conversation away from himself. He was sure May would find plenty to embarrass him about later on. For now, it was someone else's turn.
Yelena nodded, “Yeah, that was a blast. Can I get one? Some freaky squid thing would be great on missions, and long weekends,” she added with a wink.
Peter had no response to that but Yelena just laughed and shook her head. “I thought Natasha would have been much worse. This one time, she made the boys in the neighbourhood all cry when one of them snapped her training bra. Oh man, it was so funny to watch an eight-year-old mph.”
Natasha had leapt from sitting and covered Yelena's mouth with her hand. “You will stop talking. You will behave, and you will not tell Peter anything about my childhood. If you comply, nod once. If you wish to find out how much I've improved since being bonded then please continue. After dinner exercise is always fun.” Yelena nodded once. “Good.” Natasha smiled at Peter. "There will be no childhood stories of Natasha. Not now, not ever." Peter smiled, he would wait until he got Yelena alone.
Yelena wasn't going to wait though. “Yeah, it was pretty funny. She developed early I mean, like this.” She held her hands in front of her to emphasise how big Natasha was at a young age. Melina had come over and gently cuffed her on the back of the head.
“Stop embarrassing your sister. Peter, it is a pleasure to meet you, and your family. It is a bit larger than I expected but it is still good.”
Peter nodded, "And you too. I just wish it was under better circumstances." Peter cast an eye around the warehouse. "Not that this isn't good."
Everyone was here. Elektra had made her choice and declined but Emma had arrived and was sitting with Felicia. Curt and his mom were sat talking to Gwen and Liv. Alexei was telling one of his fighting stories, if his gestures were to be followed, with Carol. MJ and Wanda were cuddled up together, giving each other not-so-subtle glances. If nobody was here, they would be in an apartment.
At the end of the table, a confused and bemused Eddie sat drinking a beer, while Cindy was prowling the kitchen. In true wallflower sense, she was either too nervous to join in or too afraid of angering the group. In the end, it was Friday that approached her, and the pair seemed to be making small talk at least. In all, it was good.
All that was missing was Laura, who he knew was taking a bath as large gatherings still freaked her out a bit. Logan was still missing, but they knew he was dealing with Charles. If she was comfortable, she would join in. If not she would grab food and disappear upstairs. Peter had an S-Box, and Laura loved her fighting games.
“You don't mind?” Peter asked Melina who shrugged and took a swig from her beer.
“I grew up with Communism. Mistresses, lovers, wives, it was all the same. If you had rank, nobody cared or at least nobody said anything. The pig that ran the Red Room when I was there tried to create a pheromone that made women obey him. Having a lot of company is some men’s dream, I don’t judge.”
At the mention of a pheromone, Natasha smirked and Peter just gave a small shrug. There was more to things than just that, but Peter wasn't about to explain, “So, I've got Matt working on visas, but uh.”
Melina sighed, “Alexei is wanted by the US government? Yes?” Peter nodded, “how long?”
“Five to ten. I can maybe get him a reduced sentence if he agrees to a few conditions. The charges are old and really should be out of date. As you were sleeper agents who fled arrest, the child endangerment sticks for a lot longer. Nat and Yelena were kids, and Matt argued that you were innocent. You still need a visa but with your qualifications, it won't be too difficult to get one.”
Melina scrunched up her face, confused, “Yelena too?”
Peter nodded and took a drink from his own bottle, “Private security. Nat’s our head and can hire and fire who she likes. Sure she’s tied to us for a while, but no criminal record, no problems. Just Alexei.”
“I will persuade him. If you can promise he will be safe in prison. He thinks he has a lot of enemies. But what about me? I know what Yelena wants to do, and I have heard from Natasha that you have work for me, but am I to be taken?”
Peter frowned, “taken?”
Melina pointed to the group around her. “Bedded, to become one of your women. To pay for all this kindness? Yelena told me that you take many mistresses. She prefers women but I am interested to see if her description is accurate.” She raised her hands and held two fingers nine inches apart.
It was Peter's turn to choke on his cider, “What? No! We have a lab. Gwen works with biotech, or if you prefer mechanical, Liv. We even have someone you might know. Ivan Vanko.” He glanced over at Natasha, who was hiding her laughter with a hand. He knew she had put her mother up to this, and he would make sure he got her back later.
“Ivan works for you? Damn rat. No wonder the Red Room couldn't find him. He is a very bad man, Peter, you should be careful,” Melina warned him.
Peter laughed, “Ivan helped with our reactors. I think we’re going to split him off into his own company soon and add clean energy to AIM’s list of achievements. So uh, Gwen? I mean, she makes around ninety per cent of our money right now, and an extra set of hands would be good right?”
“I don't see why not Peter. I do prefer long hard...hours, but if you insist. As long as it is not collars or drugs I can work many things.” She nodded, seriously, "I have been told I am very good with my hands."
Natasha was trying very hard not to break down, "Okay, we teased him enough. Seriously though, how many departments do you have now Gwen?"
Gwen sat up, and listing things on her fingers she counted them all. “Pharmatech, cosmetics, and foodstuffs. We’re making a lot of different things,”
“Natasha tried to explain but science was never her strong suit, she takes after her father.” Natasha pulled a face at Melina, “definitely like her father.”
Peter laughed, “It can wait until after dinner, but it does lead me to my next question.” He motioned to Yelena to come over. “I know about the Red Room Formula, and while Gwen is the best one to talk to, Do you want it removed?”
Yelena looked over at Alexei, who was losing at arm wrestling with Carol while Laura, now out of the bath, egged her on. She sighed, “For dad, yes. His nerves are shot and he drinks, but we can see him shake. For me? I would want a new formula. I need it in my line of work.”
At that thought Peter nodded and took out a card, handing it to Yelena. “I have ‘friends’,” Peter said, making quotes, “who are very interested in meeting you.”
She looked at the card and frowned, “Wrath? Are they new?” She pouted, “never heard of them.”
“Uh, not new. When Shield went down, Fury got a new job.”
Yelena stared wide-eyed at the card. “Nick Fury?” to which Peter nodded, “Wrath is his team now?”
Melina rolled her eyes, “Go ahead.” She shook her head. “Fury was one of the ones hunting her father. She grew up with anti-hero worship I suppose.”
“Nick Fury was the greatest spy ever. With that long black coat and the eye patch. Man, he’s so cool,” Yelena said wistfully.
Peter could hear Natasha choking on her beer in the background. “Yeah, cool,” he said, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
Yelena flicked him with the card, “You are just jealous. I am calling right now.”
Peter motioned to the door, “Security stops you from dialling out,”
Yelena tutted and headed out, furiously entering a new contact while walking.
Peter and Melina both shared a smile and made their way back to the table. Peter had already started the meal, and it was finishing up in the oven. He had wanted to try and make a traditional Russian meal, but Natasha had vetoed it. Making it badly was worse than not making it at all, so instead he just went with everyone's favourites.
There were massive German wieners broiling. Pasta with various sauces. Steaks that were still in the oven after being cooked to perfection and a huge selection of sides. They were mainly potatoes of every sort, as they were easier. Jacket, roast, fries, and mashed but nothing would be leftover.
As Peter and his mom began to set out plates for everyone they had a quiet talk.
“Curt is upset, Peter, and no, not with you. He thought that once Oscorp was over with all this would be behind us,” May said, sadly, and Peter had to agree.
“I'm really sorry Mom. I never thought they would go after you two. You don't work for anyone, you're just my mom.'' In fact, the driving force behind all of Peter's retaliation was his mom. The warehouse was fair game, as everyone there was either powered or dealt with powered but not his mom. They had targeted a civilian, and for Peter, that was unforgivable. Plans were being made and while he couldn't get them all, he would make sure everyone, forced or not was made to pay.
“I know, but please. I also know you had trouble with your powers in the past and made some decisions you might regret.” May rested a hand on his arm, “But please, don't go too far on my behalf. I am okay, a little shaken but okay. I only want you to be safe.”
Peter stopped to put down some plates and pulled May into a hug, “Love you, Mom.”
Alexei looked at the pair and clapped, “See Natasha. That is the love of a child for his mother. Come give Papa a hug” and he grinned and held out both his arms, “Come on. Come to papa.”
Natasha reluctantly hugged him. Alexei wrapped his arms around her and lifted her to spin her around while laughing. “See, Melina, I told you she was not mad at me.” Natasha stared at him as he suddenly stopped, frozen in place.
“I think I just put my back out.”
