She found Peter curled at the base of a ledge high above the streets of New York, shivering in the shadows. She heard him sniffle, she could see him shaking, the sleeve of his costume was cut and stained red.

"Peter," she called out softly, "I know you freaked out back there, but do you...do you want to head back to the house?"

It wasn't the best thing to start off with, but she couldn't ask if he was "okay". Of course, he wasn't okay. He was crying for goodness sake. Which was probably the reason he didn't answer and, instead, huddled closer into the corner, drawing his arms and legs in.

She hovered on the edge, unsure of what to do. It was obvious that something went down with him earlier, something set him off, and he wanted to be alone, but she wasn't sure if that was for the best. She knew what it was like to be in his state. He might think he wants to be alone, but really...

She walked closer to him. Slow, with her hands up, palms out, to show she meant no harm. "Hey," she whispered, inching forward, "I'm just going to sit here, okay? Would that be alright?" he didn't answer, so she sat anyway.

Her feet dangled over the edge, swaying with the chilly night wind that came with being up so high. Her fingers drummed against her leg awkwardly as she bit her lip, looking for something to say.

She's never been the best at this. Comforting, that is. It was hard to tell what would make some feel better or what would set them off worse. She didn't want to say something that would make him feel as bad as he did. She looked at him through the corner of eyes. He was as stiff and still as a statue, ignorant of the nippy winds tugging at both their body. Maybe he was just used to it, or maybe he didn't come to terms with it, she wasn't sure.

But she wasn't used to it. Tiger would admit that she didn't usually fight on skyscrapers or jump around buildings before Spider-Man joined the team. She preferred solid ground, with tree's, foliage that provided plenty of covers and places to stalk. But she supposed that was the tiger side of her.

She hugged her chest, rubbing her goosebump-ridden arms jerkily as if to shave the cold off. Winter was on the way, that much was for sure.

"It's cold," Peter muttered softly, drawing her out of her thoughts. "You should be at home," he sounded tired and weak like he just spent the day getting pummeled by Juggernaut. She winced at the thought. It's happened before.

"I could say the same for you," she retorted, drawing her legs up to hug them to her chest. "And I'm not leaving until you're better so...uh, do you want to talk about it...maybe?"

She gnawed on her lips uncertainly. Was she moving too fast? Did he need more time to himself? Did she just screw up her chances of making him feel better?

He sighed. "Yeah, I saw that coming,"

Their feeble conversation tapered off. "Do...you want to talk about?" she repeated after a minute.

"No," he said, voice lowering as his head sunk back against his legs. "Not really,"

She nodded. That was understandable. Talking about emotional stuff certainly wasn't the easiest thing ever. She'd definitely take training against lame S.H.I.E.L.D L.M.D's any day. "If you're not ready to talk about it, then that's okay," she said. "We'll just sit here till you ready to go home. I told the boys to head back to the house and tell Aunt May we're studying, and I switched off my communicator signal so they can't track me. Take your time getting yourself back together, no one will bother us,"

An unseen weight seemed to lift from his shoulder. He inhaled sharply but whispered with gratification as his posture relaxed some, "Thank you, Ava. That means a lot to me," A bubble of warmth burst in her chest and drove the iced winds away. She smiled softly, even though he couldn't see it.

"No problem. That's what family is for, right?"

She might've heard that of a smile in his voice as he nodded and mumbled, "Right,"

The next 10 minutes were spent in silence. Tiger watched the New York traffic clog and choke itself, gradually adapted to the temperature, and focused her senses on anything that might disturb them. She knew the boys would wonder about their long absence eventually, and villains weren't exactly known for having crime activity schedules, but she was ready to silence anything that would disturb the time and space Peter needed to feel like himself again. She still had no clue what set him off, but she did know that he needed time to gather himself together. If he wanted to confide in her, then he would.

Admittedly, she felt a little disappointed that he hadn't already. But she was quick to chastise herself for it. He didn't need to tell her. He wasn't obligated to. But...she had also thought they had somewhat of a connection since the night he found her on the roof and sang to her to distract her from her nightmares. They hadn't talked much about the incident since it happened, but she could've sworn there was a slight change in their interactions. Something...better...something....sweeter...

She felt her cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. Who was she kidding? It was probably nothing. He was the team leader, it was his job to make sure his comrades were alright. Her mask was still on, but she turned away from Peter anyway, suddenly self-conscious that he'd be able to see her blush through the mask.

This was stupid. She officially spent WAY too much time reading romance novels. Of course, there was nothing between them; nothing but the relationship between team members, or friends. That was it. That was all. She felt stupid for reading into something that wasn't there. At least none of the boys noticed. Gah, she would never live it down.

Still feeling flustered and humiliated, Tiger glared down at the citizens walking below. Even if their relationship was nothing but platonic, she still wanted to be there for him. He's done a lot for her, it was the least she could do. Even if she suddenly, inexplicably wanted to hit him.

So wrapped up in her thoughts, she almost didn't catch it when Peter muttered, "It was the gun."

She blinked, chasing her self-pouting away, and looked back at him. "What?"

He stared at his feet. "The gun. The one the robber had. That's the reason I flipped out," he whispered, picking self consciously at the mortar of the building. "It looked exactly like the one that killed...shot Uncle Ben. I thought I was over it, but...but I guess not..." his gaze refused to meet her own. "I didn't mean to freak out back there, sorry,"

"You don't need to apologize," Ava reminded him, as she's done plenty of times before. Stupid smart guy, it's not like he wasn't allowed to have emotions. "It happens to the best of us,"

He shook his head stubbornly. "But I'm the team leader," he stressed, fist clenching. "I'm supposed to be strong and dependable! I'm not supposed to cry and break whenever I see a gun modeled the same as - as that one. What kind of leader is that?!"

"A strong one," Ava insisted firmly. "You're only human, Peter. You're a kid like the rest of us. A kid who's gone through stuff kids at our age shouldn't. When your Uncle died, it was traumatizing. And when you cry or show emotion for it, it doesn't show us that you're weak. It shows us that you're strong. That even though it hurts, you can still get up day after day and put on that mask and follow in the lesson Uncle Ben taught," she scooted closer, swinging her arm around him to draw him into a hug. "Besides, if crying over your uncle's death makes you weak. Then I guess me crying over my dads makes me weak too." she paused. "Do you think I'm weak, Peter?"

He instantly shook his head into her shoulder and whispered, "Ava Ayala, you're the strongest person I know,"

She smiled. "Then you're not weak either. Got it?" he didn't answer. "Got it?" she pressed.

Slowly, as if still unsure, he nodded. "Good," she whispered. Bundling her sudden fearless nerves, she wrapped her other arm around him and drew him in closer. "Don't let your 'manly testosterone' make you think you can't cry. Everyone can cry, and it's okay,"

He chuckled weakly. "Yeah, you're right,"

"As I always am," she smirked. He leaned into her embrace, causing her to smile wider. She held him as they both watched New York run its course in lights and chaos, safe in their silent and protected bubble. Happy that she made Peter feel better, she began to hum a soft tune. It took her a moment to realize it was "No More Heroes".

"I believe it's your turn to sing," Peter spoke up, voice no longer shaking.

Ava paused her humming to wrinkle her nose disdainfully. "I do NOT sing," she stated factually.

"Please," he begged. "I sang for you,"

"Yeah, because you can ACTUALLY sing,"

"Aw, don't be like that,"

"Like what? Realistic? Come on, you know me,"

"PLEASE?" he turned his head to look at her. His mask was still on, but she could tell he was shooting her the puppy dog eyes through the lenses. "Pleeeaaassseee?" He was beginning to act like his old self.

Good. That was a good sign.

She forced a scowl. "No,"

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"No."

"Pretty please with catnip on top?"

She glared at him. "For that, I'm never gonna ever sing,"

He sighed, then took his mask off. Oh crap. He aimed his baby blue eyes at, still red around the edges and watery, but brighter and shining with the lights of the city. He pouted at her. "Can you please sing to me?"

She stared into his eyes for a few seconds, before looking away. Stupid puppy-dog eyes! She scowled at the pedestrians. "Jameson was right. You are a menace out to get everyone," she grumbled. But then, "Fine. Okay, whatever. But don't whine to me when your eardrums break,"

He beamed at her, somehow making it better, and lay down, resting his head in her lap. He was blushing slightly, but still smiled up at her and said, "Whenever you're ready,"

She rolled her eyes. "Baby," she teased. But began to hum. She ignored the shouting and honking on the streets below, remembering the night Peter sang it to her and played on the soft, almost lullaby-like tune he went by. She wouldn't admit it to him, but she's listened to that song several times since that incident. Especially at night, after a nightmare. It helped calm her down.

Her hands shook nervously as the time to sing the actual words drew near. The words she's memorized, though she kind of wished she told him she didn't know. At least that would save her the next few minutes of embarrassment. But it was too late for that.

She started to sing.

"When the waves are crashing down, pulling you to sorrow. I will sail you back to shore when there are no more heroes," her voice shook as she sang, and she would admit that she wasn't as good as Peter. But he didn't say anything about it, only cuddled up closer as if nothing was wrong. Stupid guy, she thought, at least he can sing well. And he knows it too! Swallowing down her tone-deaf fears, she continued, "Over, under, near or far. I'll be right beside you. Standing here with open arms, when there are no more heroes,"

"It was you who showed me how brought me back to glory. Through hopeless nights and darkest days, it was breath you gave me. And through it all. And through it all. When you're tired and you stumble I will carry you. When starlight falls, my love will guide you home. You'll never be alone when there are no more heroes," Her voice cracked and she immediately flushed with embarrassment, halting in the song. Peter didn't say anything, only motioned for her to continue singing. She glared at him, still blushing, but grateful for no snide remarks.

She hummed the tune. "And through it all. And through it all. When you're tired and you stumble I will carry you. When starlight falls, my love will guide you home. You'll never be alone when there are no more heroes. When there are no more heroes," she trailed off wobbly. Scowling at the building across from them, she grumped, "Okay, there, I sang it. We good now?"

He chuckled, light-hearted and happy with no trace of the night's trauma. "thank you," he smiled. "You know, with a little fine-tuning, you wouldn't be that bad of a singer,"

"Fine-tuning," she snorted. "I sound terrible,"

He paused thoughtfully. "Yeah, that is true,"

He snickered as she whacked him on the shoulder and told him to shut his pie-hole "Seriously though," he continued when they settled down, "You wouldn't be bad,"

"Well, unless you're offering to give me singing lesson, then shut your face,"

He looked away suddenly, face reddening. "Well, I guess I wouldn't mind - um, giving you lessons. You know...if you want me to..."

She stared at him. "Yeah...that'd be nice,"

They stared at a Bugle Jumbotron a bit aways, watching as the jolly man himself ripped the local web-head a new one. Peter fiddled with his mask. "Ava?" he asked.

"Yeah?"

"Would you..." he picked at the wide eye lenses nervously, before rushing out, "Do you want to go see a movie with me? Sometimes...like Friday. Unless you're busy Friday, then Saturday. Unless you just don't want to, then it's fine, just ignore everything I just said and ask Aunt May to make me some wallowing-in-self-pity-wheat-cakes tomorrow. But don't feel bad either, I get it, I not the best guy to go on a date with. Not that I'm trying to guilt-trip you or anything, I mean, I would never do that. I don't do pity dates. I have slightly more dignity than that. And-, " she covered his mouth with her hand.

Her mask was off and she was grinning in amusement. "Are you asking me out on a date, Parker?"

He flushed a dark red. "M-maybe...unless it's a no. Then you can consider it a friendly outing between friends."

She rolled her eyes, but answered with, "Yes. I think I'd like to go out with you,"

His face instantly lit up. "Really?"

"Why not,"

He fist bumped the sky. "Sweet! Friday then?"

She shrugged. "Sounds good...But, uh, what are we gonna do about Sam, Luke, and Danny?"

Peter's nose wrinkled in thoughts. "Uh, maybe we should be discrete with this. I don't know how they'd handle uh..." she gestured between them, "whatever this is,"

Ava nodded in agreement. "Okay, so what do we tell the boys?"

A new voice spoke above them. "I don't think you need to tell the boys anything,"

Ava and Peter's eyes widened as they scrambled to their feet, turning to face the three teenagers boys leaning against the wall to the building. All their arms were crossed with similar smirks on theirs faces. Powerman pulled his shades down his nose to look at them over the rim. "Friday night movie, huh? I don't suppose you were planning on inviting us?"

Nova snickered and Iron Fist chuckled.

Ava and Peter glanced at each other.

Well shit.

So much for discrete.

SECOND PART-DONE!

Ending with fluff and a bit of humor. XD The new Spider-Man cartoon is officially out! I'm going to be writing a review on it on my forum, which I told all you guys about. But, in case you didn't know, I now have an Ultimate Spider-Man (cartoon) forum called: "The Ultimate Spider-Man Forum: For all your fandom needs," the review with be posted there as soon as I watch the episodes. Not that you guys need to read, it's only for fun. Do what you want.

IMPORTANT NOTES READ HERE!!! Also, another announcement, I'm feeling daring and will actually be taking pairing prompts for the next 3 chapters. Yep, I'm writing ships. Whoopee.

But I do have a rule. *cue whining* Yes, I know.

My only rule is that it has to be a Spider-Man pairing. Pretty much Spider-Man paired with anyone else in the Ultimate Spider-Man universe. Why? Because, to be honest, I can literally write Spider-Man in a relationship with anyone. Also, because I like writing Spider-Man and he's my subject of choice to write with. Nuff' said.

So, if you want to suggest a Spider-Man pairing for the next three chapters of this book, just comment the pairing below and whichever one is commented most frequently will be written. (Note: No spider-tiger. That's what this one-shot was for).

Okay, that's all. THanks for reading!!