Countdown To The Big Reveal

The press had been buzzing for a week since the big announcement was made. Through the foundation, Reed Richards released a statement to the media to inform them that in seven days time, the Fantastic Four would become the Fantastic Five. Reed made it clear that the announcement would be made publicly from the tower lobby, and it was clear from the response of the main stream media that every network would be covering it. Twenty-four hour news channels went into a frenzy, interviewing people who were 'experts' in the field of super humans and mutants, trying to guess who Reed was going to name as the newest member of his team. The networks went as far as to procure other superheroes for interviews, not only to ask for their guesses of who the next member of Reed's team would be but to ask them if they were that person so they could deny it on the air.

Many names had been tossed around, but much to everyone's amusement, no one had ever considered Spider-Man as a choice. Peter did his best not to take it personally, but the only one who was actually talking about him the entire week was still J. Jonah Jameson, and he still wasn't saying anything nice about him. Spider-man had been absent for almost two weeks since Reed came to visit him and J. Jonah kept telling the people that the wall crawler was up to something sinister, so everyone had to be extra cautious. Peter was standing at the window of his new condo, which just happened to have an amazing view of the massive screen that broadcast the Daily Bugle's message.

"That wall crawler is a menace!" J. Jonah screamed from a few block away, "He's up to something, and we're going to figure out what it is!"

"Don't let him get under your skin," a voice called out.

Peter turned to see Johnny walking up. "Easy for you to say, the last time the Bugle wrote about you, it was fluff piece that bragged about how awesome you were."

"You'll get your fluff pieces soon enough," Johnny said, putting a friendly arm around Peter's shoulders, "Jameson will not print a harsh word about you after you join the team for the same reason he doesn't write harsh things about us."

"And what is that?" Peter asked.

"Lawyers," Johnny answered, "Lots of lawyers. I think Reed actually has an entire firm on retainer and they jump at his command. When the Bugle gets their first cease and desist order from Reed's high priced attorneys, J. Jonah will start writing those puff pieces for you too. I guarantee it."

Peter remembered Reed saying something about his lawyers the first day he met him, so he believed what Johnny had said. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought of the foundation suing the bugle should J. Jonah try to continue puffing bad press at Spider-Man. The thought of the look on his face almost made all the butterflies he was suffering worth it.

"You're not nervous are you?" Johnny asked, "The same kid who took on the sinister six by himself can't be afraid of the press."

"I'm just nervous about how the world will respond," Peter replied, "I know how they feel about Spider-Man; I'm not sure how they will feel about Peter. I don't even know how Jameson is going to respond."

"You'll be able to see for yourself," Johnny informed him, "Reed invited him to the press conference and gave him a seat in the front row."

Peter sighed. "I really wish you hadn't told me that."

Johnny laughed and slapped Peter on the back, "You'll be fine, kid."

Peter stood there and kept watching the Bugle screen long after Johnny had went back to his own room. It was right then and there he decided to leave the building and do a little late night web slinging. He went to the roof of the Reed Tower in his Spider-Man uniform and was walking to the edge when he heard a voice call out.

"Peter," Reed said to him, "Where are you going?"

Peter looked up at Reed. "There's nothing going on. I'm not looking for a fight, and for some reason no one wants to do anything bad. It appears the criminals are just as eager to see what happens tomorrow."

"So, just going out for a swing?" Reed asked.

"Just to get away from the building," Peter confessed, "Once I'm a few blocks away, I intend to walk around and get some air."

"Don't be out too long," Reed requested, "You have a big day tomorrow."

"I won't," Peter said as he put his mask on and swung away.

While swinging through the streets, Peter couldn't help but think how things would change the next day. With his whole world being turned upside down, there was only one person he wanted to see before the big day. He swung back to the same neighborhood where Aunt May used to live. After changing back into his regular clothes, Peter couldn't resist walking by May's house one more time. She had already moved out the week before Reed made his announcement. She texted him some pictures and Richards wasn't lying about the house, the one in Colorado was an exact match to the house May just moved out of. She seemed happy where she was now, even wishing him luck for his big day, letting him know that she would be watching on television as it happened. After looking at the text one more time, Peter walked next and started tossing some pebbles at one of the windows on the second floor. Moments later, Mary Jane opened the window and stuck her head out.

"Peter?" she said, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," Peter replied, "Just one more time before I left."

"I saw your Aunt move out a week ago," Mary Jane said, as she still couldn't believe it. "Are you moving out with her?"

"No," Peter answered, "I'm staying here in New York."

"Hold on," Mary Jane said, "I'll be right down."

When she walked out the back door, she walked over and gave Peter a hug that kind of surprised him.

"What was that for?" Peter asked.

"You've been gone for two weeks," Mary Jane reminded him, "I missed you. It will be nice to have you back at school tomorrow."

"I'm not coming back," Peter informed her, "I started taking classes at a new private school last week. I got transferred to this amazing school for gifted kids."

"Wait," Mary Jane interrupted, "You're a mutant?"

"Not that kind of gifted," Peter said, laughing at the thought of being enrolled at Xavier's academy. "I was offered the chance of a lifetime to go to a school that will challenge me academically. It was an offer I couldn't refuse."

"Are you here to say good bye, Tiger?" Mary Jane asked.

"I hope not," Peter asked, "But once I go, things will never be the same. I hope we can work through it, but I can't make any promises."

"Don't freak out, Tiger." Mary Jane said, feeling he was taking their meeting a tad too serious, "You're not running off to save the world, are you?"

"You never know," Peter said, starting to walk away. "See you around."

"I hope so," Mary Jane said, waving, "Don't be a stranger!"

Peter walked a few blocks after speaking with Mary Jane, and then when the coast was clear, he hopped into a tree and changed back into uniform and started swinging his way back to the tower. He was about half way there when he felt his sense tingling, which made him change course. Once he landed on the roof of a nearby building, he noticed the source of his warning, as the familiar armored suit of Iron Man few down to land on the same roof top.

"Spidey," Iron Man said as his mask flipped open, "Isn't it past your bedtime?"

"I was on my way home actually," Peter replied.

"No you weren't," Stark said as he pointed in the direction that Peter was coming from. "Aunt May's house is that way."

"I don't live there anymore," Peter informed him.

"Since when?" Stark asked.

"Two weeks ago," Peter answered, "I moved to a new school too, one that will present a greater challenge to my intellect."

"Is that so?" Stark said, thinking about it, "And where is this school?"

Peter was hesitant but decided to be frank with Tony, who had been kind to him and May in the past. "With the Reed Foundation."

Stark's eyes went wide with shock, something that rarely happened to him. "You're the new member Richards is introducing tomorrow!"

"I am," Peter confirmed, as it felt good to tell someone about it.

"That son of a..." Stark stopped mid sentence and grunted as he took a few steps away. "Is there anything we can do to change your mind?"

"Fraid not," Peter replied, "The deal was sealed weeks ago. The ink is dry. All that's left is the big reveal."

"Can't say I blame him," Tony said, thinking about it. "What did he offer you?"

"Pretty much the keys to the kingdom," Peter answered, "Reed wants me to take his place and command the fantastic five when he eventually steps down. I'll basically inherit the entire foundation too."

"As much as I hate to say it," Stark said, "Reed's made a good choice. I think when you grow up you'll be the best of us all."

"This doesn't mean we can't work together," Peter added, "There's no reason why the fantastic five can't work with Shield or the Avengers."

"You're right," Stark admitted, "I look forward to many more collaborations."

"As do I, Mr. Stark." Peter said as he checked his watch. "I gotta swing outta here. Are you going to be at the big reveal tomorrow?"

"I will be now," Tony said with a wink, "Good luck, Peter."

Stark watched as Peter shot out a web with a flick of his wrist and swung away, off to get back to the tower before Reed's patience wore thing. Tony stood there for a moment and watched Spidey swing out of sight and then sighed.

"Contact Shield," Tony ordered, "Priority One."

Moments later, a voice answered.

"Stark," Fury said as he sounded like he was getting out of bed, "What the hell is going on that makes it a priority one call? Usually if there is priority one situation, I'm the one making that call."

"We need to talk," Tony replied, "I know who Reed's new member is and you're not going to like it. He's poached one of our most gifted assets..."