Written by Sara K.
(A/N) Guess I got a lot of traction on the first chapter! Here's chapter two up a lot sooner than I thought. I'll have the third one out sometime this week.
Please keep reviewing! It's good to know when things are working and it helps keep me motivated. Thanks for reading!
Alarms blaring and lights flashing; Tony's suit was loosing its hold.
"Friday, I need an update on that battery!"
The response he got was a muffled slam along with a few consents mixed in.
"That's helpful."
Tony looked down to see the glowing energy around Arthur's hand melting into his chest plate.
Sweat and blood dripped down Tony's face.
"You took everything from me Stark," he leaned in close, "it's time I do the same to you."
"Listen I've never heard of you...ugh." Tony grunted, the heat was filling his metal suit. He felt like he was going to melt. "Maybe we can call a time out and you can give me a power point presentation or something."
Arthur chuckled. "Or I just take you with us and give it to you there."
He then reeled back his fist, landing another hard punch on Tony's mask.
Then another.
Then another.
Then another.
Then he hit him so hard his mask flew off his face, melting into pieces a couple feet away.
Tony turned his horrified gaze back up to Arthur.
He tried to lift his arms but they stayed pinned on the ground by Arthur's knees. Tony couldn't move. He was trapped.
He was exposed.
Vulnerable.
Arthur then took his hand and pressed it on the side of Tony's face.
"UGH!"
The ringing came back.
His heart and lungs freezing with every movement. He could feel his whole body shaking, the energy holding him hostage.
Arthur grinned.
"You're ours now."
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF MR. STARK!"
Suddenly, Arthur was flung backwards, crashing through the door into the other end of the building.
Tony took in a heaving breath, his lungs finally clear.
He gasped a moment before turning his attention in front of him.
"Are you ok Mr. Stark?"
Peter.
"Kid?" Tony groaned as he looked up to see him in his Spidey suit.
"Don't worry, I got you sir." Peter rushed to his side.
He put one arm behind Tony's back and grabbed one of his armored hands with the other. Peter then was able to heave Tony back off the ground.
"The hell are you doing here?"
"It was all over the news! Kinda hard to miss."
A roar was heard from the hallway.
"What are we dealing with Mr. Stark?"
"A psycho super-powered attempt at kidnapping."
"For what?!"
"To stabilize that-" Tony pointed ahead of them.
Arthur reappeared in the hole he was thrown through. The webs Peter had yanked him back with singed off his glowing body.
"Mr. Stark, you might want to put your mask back on..."
"Don't have another one." He grunted, climbing to his feet.
"What's the plan?"
"Uh...haven't come up with anything yet."
"FINE!" Arthur took a step forwards. His body was glowing brighter then it had ever gone. Heat radiating from him, melting the floor with each step. "WE'LL TAKE YOU AND KILL THE KID!"
Then a blast of yellow energy shot towards Peter, sending him through the glass window, out of the building and into the open air. His body falling from view.
Tony's heart dropped.
"KID!" He yelled.
Then another blast sent his suit to the ground.
Tony rolled over onto his side, catching his breath before pulling himself to his knees. He looked up to see Arthur smiling back at him.
"I'll melt this whole damn building to the GROUND! Everything, your legacy, it'll all be WIPED FROM EXISTENCE!"
Then there was a flicker.
The light from Arthur's body faded on and off. His hands began to shake.
Then his knees buckled, he collapsed onto his hands. His smile vanished.
The yellow light began pulsating around Arthur. A pained shout of desperation escaped from his lungs.
It's not stable.
Tony's gaze widened as he watched the man be torn apart by the very weapon he chose to use.
Before Tony could make a move, Jessica, the woman who'd been out of view this whole time, rushed up beside Arthur. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. The energy not burning into her skin.
Tony watched as she pulled out a small device from her pocket. A green glow emitted from it before she pressed its surface.
Then a flash of light.
Then they were gone.
Tony stared at the empty space they left behind. A simple breeze blowing through the room.
A wave of panic hit him like a train when he remembered.
"Kid..."
Tony didn't hesitate to jump to his feet and leap out the destroyed window. His stabilizers barely kicking in, flickering on and off.
Tony didn't care.
He had to find Peter.
He only had to hover down for a few panicked moments before catching sight of the bright red and blue suit.
On a ledge a couple stories down from his office, laid the kid.
His face towards the building with his back to the sky.
Tony quickly landed his suit on the ledge. His boots clinked as they rested on the metal beam. He tapped his chest piece, allowing the suit to fold open. Tony jumped out of it and knelt down beside Peter.
He grabbed his shoulder. "Pete?"
A pit sat at the bottom of his chest. A real fear bubbling inside him.
Tony shook him again. "Kid? You alright?"
Silence.
"KID!"
A groan mumbled out of Peter's mouth.
"Ouch..."
Tony took in a shaking breath of relief. He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head before resting his hand back on Peter's shoulder.
"You alright?"
"Everything sucks..." Peter pulled himself up, his mask only uncovering his mouth. "But...I think I'm good."
Tony patted him on the back, letting out another sigh.
Peter turned back up to Tony.
"Did we get him?"
"Friday, privacy screens."
The broken windows were quickly covered by sheets of black metal. The lighting above then kicked in, taking the place of the sunlight.
Tony stepped around the crumbling walls of his office. He bent down and dug through the remnants of his desk before catching the handle of his mug. Lifting it up, Tony let out an annoyed sigh when he saw the other half of it had been shattered. He hadn't held it for much more than a second before tossing it over his shoulder.
Once the elevator was closed behind him, Peter slipped off his mask. He glanced around the destroyed room before his eyes landed back on Tony.
"I'm sorry."
Tony snapped back to Peter, giving him an amused look. "Sorry for what?"
"They got away. I should've helped you, not get myself thrown out of a building."
Tony squinted at him a moment before stepping closer to him. "You did good kid. Don't apologize for it."
Peter gave him a small nod.
Satisfied with that, Tony turned back to the room. He stepped around a few more things and pick up one of the glass panels from his computer.
Peter followed him. "What do we do now?"
"The answer is what do I do now." Tony ignored his gaze. "You're not getting involved."
"Mr. Stark, they almost got you!"
"And I am grateful for your help," Tony nodded, turning back to him. "But that doesn't change the fact that you're not getting involved."
Peter scoffed. "Why not?"
"You want a list? Alright I'll give it to you." Tony stepped up to him. "First of all; you could've died today. In a way that was way too close for comfort."
"But I didn't-"
"Ah ah! Adult speaking." Tony held up his hand. "Secondly, I know these guys. I've danced with them before. They're people I don't even want to be around let alone put you in the line of fire of."
Peter frowned back at him. Pressing his lips together, wanting to stay more.
"Also cause Aunt May made me promise no internship while she's gone."
"She what?"
Tony shrugged, and turned back away from him.
"What- she called you?!"
"She's got my personal number."
"Why?!"
"Cause after she found out about your spider secret who do you think she tried to call first?"
Peter ran a hand through his hair. This was so embarrassing. So degrading. How long was he going to be a kid?
Tony put the glass panel on one of the standing tables. "Where's she going again?"
"On a cruise with some work friends." Peter shook his head. Tony was obviously trying to change the subject.
"If these guys are so serious Mr. Stark, then you're gonna need all the help you can get."
"We're done talking about it Pete." Tony crossed his arms. "It's spring break right?"
"Yeah?"
"Go hang out with your friends, go to parties or try drinking for first time or do whatever kids do now a days. Probably don't do the drinking thing actually." Tony nodded. "You're a kid. Go be a kid, alright?"
"But Mr. Stark-"
"Listen," Tony took another step forwards before placing a hand on his shoulder. "If something...that's a big IF...but IF something was far enough out of my depth for me to ask for a sixteen year old's help...you'll be the first one I call."
Peter grunted as he climbed back through his window.
The sun set outside with light bouncing from buildings and street lamps.
Peter quickly undressed from his spider suit. Angrily ripping it off and tossing it to the floor. He stopped when he caught himself in the mirror.
A bruise around his eye and hair stuck everywhere.
He watched himself a moment longer before letting out a long sigh. He felt the anger leave him with exhaustion.
He needed to sleep.
Peter then went on with his nightly routine. He took a shower, getting rid of the grime and dirt. He combed out his wet hair and changed into a pair of boxers and a white T-shirt. After he changed, Peter held an ice pack to his eye as he ate his leftover pizza from the fridge.
He flicked on the news again. Everything was talking about the tower's attack. Tony Stark this, Spider-Man that; no one had any more information on what happened.
They cut to reporters trying to catch Tony once he left the building but apparently it had been a decoy car so he could escape out the back.
No statement from him.
Which wasn't surprising.
Peter doubted Tony would've given the press more info then he would've given himself.
But who knows...at least the reporters are adults. He probably thought they could handle it.
Peter flipped off the tv. He sat in the dark a moment before dropping his shoulders and burring his head in his hands.
He needed to sleep.
Peter went to his room. He was ready to crash when he remembered he still needed to plug in his phone.
He dug through his dirty laundry before finding it inside his jean pocket.
When opening it up to check the time, Peter realized he had thoroughly screwed up.
Aunt May 27 missed calls.
His thumb hovering over the voicemail box.
I'm so screwed.
Tony dropped the Parks file onto the nightstand.
"You know I haven't stayed in a hotel room since-"
"You got into a stable relationship with me?"
"Exactly."
He pinned the phone between his ear and his shoulder so he could lift his bag onto the bed.
A band-aid covered the scrape on his forehead and another over the bridge of his nose. There were bruises on his jaw and another bigger one on his side. After his phone call he knew he'd be taking a trip down to the ice machine.
"And you're not going home till this is over right?"
"Scouts honor."
"What about the kid?"
"He's fine. Got a little banged up but he'll pull through."
"Good..."
Silence.
Tony pulled a few stacks of clothes from his bag before he noticed how quiet it'd gotten.
"What's wrong Pep?"
A pause.
"What's not wrong Tony?"
Tony stopped what he was doing and took the phone back in his hands. "I'll be alright."
"I just want this to be over."
Tony thought a moment. He felt a tightness in his throat. "I'm trying honey."
"I know...it's not your fault I just...just want you safe..."
Another pause.
"What hotel are you at?"
"I can't tell you that Pepper."
"Why not?!"
"Cause I'm not letting you come here."
"Tony, I can't do this again-"
"Honey, you are safer out of state. I can't find out who these people are if I'm worrying about you every step of the way alright?" Tony took in a breath. "I need you to be safe."
A couple seconds passed.
"I need you to be safe too."
"I promise I will let you know when you can come home. Right now I need time ok?"
The line went quiet.
"They said they work for AIM?"
"Yeah."
"Did they work for Killian?"
"I don't know, they might've just said that to scare me."
"That guy on the news beat the shit out of you Tony, I don't think they need to lie to do that."
"I'll find them Pep. I'll find them and it'll be over alright?"
"One week."
"What?"
"One week and I'm coming back to New York."
Tony opened his mouth. He was ready to argue with her but he knew he wouldn't win. She made up her mind. She was just as stubborn as he was and he knew if he was in her situation he'd do the same.
"Ok. One week."
The two stayed on the line a little longer before finally:
"I love you."
"I love you too." He paused. "I'll call you later ok?"
"Ok."
"Goodnight."
"Night."
Tony ran a hand through his hair as he set the phone on the nightstand. He sat down on the the mattress and watched it for a second. Tony's gaze than moved over to the file sitting beside it.
While digging through the rubble of his office, Tony had found Jessica's file.
Must've been too busy to take it with her.
Tony took it in his hands. He rested his elbows on his lap and held the file up to eye level. He'd wait till later for his ice machine trip.
Tony flipped it open and read through the pages. Each one as wordy as the last. With his attention much more captured than the last time he picked it up, Tony read each line thoroughly.
A hour passed by.
The papers scatted around the bed as Tony sat with his back against the bed frame. His legs crossed in front of him and an arm rested behind his head. He thumbed over a graph in his hand while reading the final statement about it in his lap.
When he finished the last line, he tossed both things to the other end of the bed. Tony crossed his arms over his chest and let out a deep breath, turning his head to the ceiling.
Nothing.
All of it was just bullshit to spew in his face about a company that didn't exist. He was no where closer to finding these guys.
Tony then got off the bed and headed out his room. It didn't take him long to find the ice machine. He quickly scooped up a full bucket's worth and turned to the door. He stopped when his eyes settled on the vending machine beside it.
Getting recognized by room service probably isn't a good idea.
Tony placed the bucket down and took out his wallet. He quickly slipped in a couple of bucks and grabbed a coke, a bag of chips and a chocolate bar. He held the chips and drink in one arm, the bucket in the other and the chocolate bar between his teeth.
Tony struggled with the door before kicking it open with his foot. He dropped his 'dinner' on the nightstand and the ice by the tv. Tony quickly unwrapped the candy before eating half of it. He held the rest of it with his mouth and washed off his now free hands. Tony then took the empty plastic trash bag from the small waste basket and filled it with ice. He finished off the chocolate before stuffing the wrapper in his pocket. Tony then tied the other end of the trash bag and held a towel around it. He lifted the bag up to his face and held it there a moment before moving back to the nightstand. He opened the small brightly colored bag and took a handful of chips before opening the coke with his now free hand. He took a sip from that before hearing a beep go off from the corner of the room.
Tony screwed the cap back on the bottle and placed it beside the bed. He grunted as he made his way back to the other case he had brought with him. It was bright red metal with a slight blue glow around the accents.
The least suspicious way Tony could transport armor.
"You finally awake Friday?"
"Rebooted boss."
Tony nodded. "I need you to roll back the security footage from today."
A blue hologram projected from a mechanism of the case. Tony sat down on the bed beside it. He moved the ice bag to his side as he waited for it to play.
He watched the time fast forward to Jessica entering the room. She sat down in front of him. They were talking, they were talking, then suddenly-
"Friday pause."
Then suddenly Arthur Parks was there. How'd he get there?
"Rewind."
She went back.
"Play at half speed."
They were talking, they were talking, then there was a small flash of light from the floor. Tony's eyes widened as he watched Arthur phase through the floor.
"We've already created techopathic and phasing technology with it." Tony remembered Jessica saying
Probably why the stabilization is so off. He thought to himself. He'd be impressed if he wasn't terrified. Something like this could get someone anywhere.
Tony pressed a hand against his mouth. "Skip to when they vanished."
The video jumped a couple of seconds at a time before stopping. Tony leaned in close.
He watched Jessica wrap her arms around Arthur.
"Pause."
The energy coming off of him at that point should of fried her.
Tony leaned in even closer.
Around the surface of her skin that made contact was an orange yellow glow. Cracks almost like lava ran down her skin. There was something eerily familiar about the sight.
Extremis.
Tony scoffed and leaned back.
Of course. Why wouldn't she have it?
"Play though."
He had Friday pause once more when Jessica pulled out the small green device.
"Well if that's a teleporter that means they went somewhere right?"
"If it worked, yes."
"So there'd be an energy spike wherever they landed..." Tony pressed his lips together and thought a moment. "Scan for anything unusual between 4 o'clock and 5."
"Already on it."
Tony got back up once the hologram stopped playing. He held the ice back up to his face and walked his way over to his nightstand again. He took another drink of his soda before a click and a beep went off from the case.
"There are three possible spikes but one is extremely high."
"When was it at?"
"Two milliseconds after they vanished from Stark Tower."
"Where'd it happen?"
"A warehouse on the docks outside of Queens."
Tony tightened his jaw. He put the ice back down. His mind racing over what to do next.
"The responsible thing would be to wait till tomorrow right?"
"Resting would be a good idea boss but I have a feeling you're not planning on doing that."
Tony drummed his fingers against the plastic bottle. Bitting his lip, Tony took in a deep breath. He dropped the bag of ice back in its bucket and took a long swig of soda before nodding.
"Rig up a flight plan."
