Peter hated feeling helpless.
There were many instances in Peter's life where he felt completely helpless. Like when he was bullied by Flash. Or when the debilitating pain overcame him after the spider bite, permanently altering his DNA. Or when Mr. Stark took away his suit. When he was almost crushed under that building. When his parents died. When he couldn't save Uncle Ben.
Or now, as Quill took on an enormous alien monster on his own, while simultaneously battling the grief of loss.
And Peter couldn't get his damn body to move.
He watched as Quill yelled out in absolute rage, shooting round after round of energy into Cull Obsidian's face. The monster was physically unfazed, the blasts leaving only slight burns on his thick hide. He roared out in anger, bringing his hammer forward and swinging it down towards the man.
Quill deftly managed to dodge the attack, somersaulting out of the way. He darted behind the beast, sticking a small device on Cull's leg and activating it, sending jolts of electricity through the massive being.
But it wasn't enough. Cull yowled in pain, reaching down to his leg and pulling off the device. Quill's eyes widened as he crushed it in his hands. His dark eyes zoned in on the human, and he charged.
Quill shot at the monster again and again, to no avail. He tried ducking out of the way, but whether because of his own injuries or his emotional state, he wasn't fast enough. Cull grabbed him by the neck in one swift motion and hoisted him up into the air.
Peter watched in horror as Quill thrashed against Cull's grip, clawing desperately at the large hand that held him. He choked out quiet noises as his face grew dangerously red. Peter slammed his hand down on the spider at the center of his chest, willing the nanites to hurry please Quill's dying. Peter watched as the nanites formed around him, much too slowly. He scrambled out from beneath the bush as the mask covered his face, black dots flooding his vision and sending him back to the ground. He cursed at himself, at his weakness.
Cull Obsidian chuckled darkly at Quill's struggling form, "You should have chosen to come quietly." he said, tightening his grip around the man's neck. Quill's movements slowed down, his hands dropping to his sides. His face became lax as consciousness left him.
Peter's heart rate spiked again as Quill's eyes fluttered closed, a renewed sense of energy surging within him. He shot to his feet in one fluid movement, activating his iron spider legs, "Hey you big asshole! Let him go!"
Cull Obsidian snapped his head towards Peter, eyes narrowing. He took one more look at the unconscious human in his hand and tossed him to the ground in a heap. He brandished his giant hammer, and came bounding towards the teen.
Oh shit.
He yelped as the hammer was swung at him, leaping high into the air and landing behind the beast. He discharged several thick webs onto Cull's arms before the monster pivoted, sending his weapon crashing down to the ground where Peter was standing only seconds before. Peter climbed up the hammer and onto Cull's torso, using his iron legs for leverage. The sharp metal gouged deep holes into Cull's skin. Peter perched himself atop the monster's shoulders, retracting the legs and shooting webs into Cull's eyes, blinding him temporarily. The monster roared and reached a hand up to his face, which Peter quickly kicked away. He shot more webs around the monster's arms, torso, face and legs, while landing a few solid punches for good measure.
Cull Obsidian teetered before landing hard on his back. He didn't get up.
Peter paced slowly around the fallen figure, a nagging in his head to just finish it. But Peter had never killed anyone before. And he wasn't so sure he wanted to start now. He worried his lip and shot a few more webs around the monster, just in case, before he turned and sprinted towards Quill.
He retracted his mask and landed roughly on his knees beside the older man, whose eyes were still closed. Peter brought his fingers to Quill's neck, grimacing at the dark bruises already mottling his skin. He sighed in pure relief when he felt a steady heartbeat. He glanced down at Quill's chest, which was raising and falling with measured breaths.
"Hey man, you gotta wake up," he gently slapped at Quill's cheeks. No reaction. Peter glanced at the monsterous form behind him, "Quill, wake up. We don't have a lot of time." He shook the man's shoulders.
Quill let out a low moan, his eyes squinting open. "Aw man," he choked out, before a series of violent coughs racked his frame. Peter helped him sit up, awkwardly patting the half-human's back as his lungs tried figuring out how to work again.
"Are you okay?" Peter asked, even though he already knew the answer.
Quill's eyes met the ground, "Yeah. I'm fine." His words were distant.
"Are you-" Peter froze, his senses buzzing, the hairs on his neck standing straight up.
He knew what was coming before he even turned around.
"Run!"
He pulled Quill off the ground, who muttered a surprised, "Shit!" before taking off after Peter.
Cull Obsidian bounded towards them, freed from his webby prison and angrier than ever.
They ran as fast as their legs could take them, dodging trees and rocks and brambles. Their legs ached and their lungs hurt but they kept going.
They burst from the trees, the distant sound of rushing water registering in Peter's mind. He spotted a dark hole cut into a rocky outcropping, and bolted.
"Hide in here!" He shouted, Cull's thundering footsteps growing closer.
They dropped into the hole, slamming into each other as they struck the ground. Peter bit back a yell as his collar bone exploded in pain. They huddled close to each other, the small space not allowing for much elbow room, and they waited.
The pounding footsteps paused, distilling dust from the dirt around them. They sat with bated breath, eyes scanning the opening above. They let out sighs of relief when the footsteps moved again, finally fading away completely.
The adrenaline quickly left Peter's body, leaving him exhausted and pained, "That was insane," he breathed out, gritting his teeth as he cradled his arm to his chest.
Quill nodded, still breathing heavily. He sat cross legged, dropping his face into his hands.
Peter didn't know what to say or do, so he just sat there, curled against the wall, willing the pain away.
Several minutes passed, and nothing could be heard but Peter's pained breaths and the drip drop of water on the floors of the cave.
Quill finally raised his head, looking over to Peter, "How're you holding up?" He asked. Peter pretended he couldn't see the redness lining Quill's eyes.
He grimaced, "Hurts pretty bad." That was the understatement of the century. His entire body ached, the epicenter of pain throbbing in his arm and upper chest. He was sure the strain of fighting set back his recovery by at least a week.
"I'm so sorry, kid," Quill hung his head, his voice heavy.
Peter furrowed his brow, "Why are you sorry?"
"'S all my fault." He raised his head to look at the light streaming above. "This whole mess. Should've been more careful. Should've saved-" his voice broke, and suddenly Peter wondered if he was talking about their situation, or something else entirely. He let out a breath through his nose, looking down at his boots again, "He didn't do it."
"Quill?" Peter tried, his worry shooting up a notch.
"He's lying." He fisted his hands until his knuckles turned white. "He's lying. He has to be." He looked at Peter, eyes glistening. "She's fine," Peter saw the faintest of smiles grace his lips, "She's fine," He nodded to himself, as if trying to convince himself.
"Quill?"
But he ignored Peter, scooting forward and tapping the spider on Peter's chest. "Let's patch you up," He smiled, and this time it didn't seem as forced.
"Okay..." Peter pressed on the spider, holding it until the nanites retracted. He let out a groan as the cold, damp air of the cave peirced his skin through the thin spandex.
Quill worked quickly and quietly, performing the same careful ministrations that he did a few days before when they landed in this awful mess. Every once in awhile he'd ask Peter if he hurt, or if he felt dizzy, and he'd offer a small smile and reassuring words as he tended the wounds. Peter could feel his energy waning rapidly.
"You cold?" Quill asked, noting the slight tremors that ran through Peter's body.
"Yeah," his eyes drooped.
"C'mere," Quill situated himself next to Peter, wrapping his arm around him like he did before. Except this time, Peter wondered if it was just as much for Quill as it was for him.
Quill searched through his pocket, pulling out a little rectangular device. He stared at it, cradling it in his hand as if it were something sacred, before unraveling the cords that were wrapped around it.
"Is that... a Zune?" Peter asked, a laugh perched on his tongue.
"Yeah," Quill smiled, a slight trace of his normal self returning, "Best Terran music player there is. It can hold 300 songs. Can you believe that?"
"Yeah. That's," Peter grinned, stifling his laugh, "that's a lot."
"You have one of these?" The man asked.
"Uh, yeah. Something like that," Peter replied, before adding, "Not as cool as a Zune, though."
The smile didn't leave Quill's face as he popped one of the ear buds into his ear, "Do you wanna listen?" He held out the other bud to Peter.
"Yeah, sure," Peter adjusted the ear bud, and the quiet lyrics filtered into his head.
If you ever change your mind
About leaving, leaving me behind
Oh, oh, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me...
Peter felt himself drifting away as the soft music lulled him to sleep.
And when he woke up the next morning, he didn't mention the tears he'd seen streaming down Quill's face as the music played.
