His voice drops from the call, replaced by a never ending static – and her entire face turns cold.
As soon as Peter had hung up from the call, MJ drops her phone to the floor, trying to take a second to gather herself. She feels her entire body tensing, anxiety and fear controlling her brain, and his words repeating over and over in her head.
She can not formulate what his words must mean. Is he in fatal danger? The thought alone causes her to shiver, goosebumps crawling on her skin, her eyes widening against the wall in front of her.
In recent times, MJ has done anything she can to look after Peter; to make sure he's doing okay. Why she has accepted this responsibility? She does not know. She does know, however, that she hasn't felt this cold since her dad died, and out of all of the times she has put herself in harm's way to protect Peter, now was the most important moment of them all.
Her mind scans for an idea, desperate to find something she can do to help. She feels blind and helpless and weak, so afraid that no one would take her seriously and that she would fail on her own. The only choice now would be to get other people involved – she has no ideas of things she could do alone. Who?
She would call May, but she knows that it would only create more havoc, for she has a got feeling that this is something that she wouldn't be able to solve either. She has no contacts to Happy or The Avengers, who would be the best at figuring out this situation.
However, she knows somebody who does.
"Ned," she whispers to herself, her voice hoarse as it hasn't spoken since she had that conversation with Peter. A conversation which would wander in her heart for the rest of her life.
She picks the phone back up off the floor, wincing when she opens it to see Peter's contact. However, she knows what she has to do.
Ned is stubborn, and he disagreed with her on what was wrong with Peter. There's a chance that he won't listen to her, or that he'll call her crazy. Despite this, he's her last hope yet.
Anxiously, she dials his number, her foot tapping against the floor.
It rings, and rings, and rings, each ring making her heartbeat faster.
It goes to voicemail.
Fuck.
There is only one option left – it's a good thing she knows where his house is.
MJ scrambles herself up off the floor, shakily grabbing her phone and putting it in her back pocket. She pushes the curls of her hair over her shoulder and exits the bathroom, quickly sneaking out of the house before her mother can hear her. Suddenly, she is out into the night, running as quickly as she could towards her friend's home.
Luckily, it was only a few blocks away. She should have participated more in PE.
Finally, she found herself on the street he lives on and stops in the yard, taking a moment to catch her breath. She has never ran so fast in her life, but she didn't regret a second of it.
For Peter.
She looks up at the house, noticing that the window upstairs that belongs to Ned's room was lit up by the lamp. He must be inside.
She notices a ladder resting against the side of the wall, a ladder adequate enough to get her up there.
She reaches for the ladder, using her strength to flip it up in the right direction, trying to lay it against the house without it making a sound that would alert the family. Luckily, it does not make any sort of bang, resting gracefully just short of the window.
She starts her climb, though she unnoticeably crawls up a little too quickly.
Trying to rush up the ladder, she skips a step and her foot steps on midair, sending her soaring down the ladder and landing on the floor.
She winces in pain, scrunching her face and rubbing her neck, scared that she had gotten a more serious injury from the impact. To her luck, she only has a cut on her knee, blood rapidly forming raspberry through her denim jeans, but no broken bones.
Her arm is plenty sore, though.
Luckily, she had only been in the middle of the ladder when she fell, or it would have been much worse.
She stands up and goes to the ladder once more, re-trying her climb. She breathes in deeply and pays more attention to her steps, reminding herself that she will be of no help to Peter if she hurts herself on the way.
Finally, she reaches the top of the ladder, her knee stinging like crazy, and knocks on the window.
Ned comes over, assuming it was Peter, maybe to help him on a top secret black suit mission, but is met with MJ instead.
He blinks his eyes in confusion, but realizes she is standing on a ladder and rushes to open the window.
"MJ?" he asks, "What are you doing here?"
"Can you help me in?" she asks, and without hesitation he grabs her wrists, allowing her crawl inside.
"Dude, you're a mess," he states, eyeing her up and down as she stands in his room. "Why is your knee bleeding? Are you okay?"
MJ looks into his eyes, the events of the night flashing before them, and that's when she starts to sniffle.
Sniffles turn to cries and cries turn into sobs, and she doesn't care that she is being emotional in front of Ned when she swore she wouldn't in front of anyone; she is too afraid to be embarrassed.
"Whoa," Ned panics, not knowing what to do in the situation. "Hey, it's okay, don't cry!"
He reaches to hug her, and although she would make fun of him any other day, she hugs him back, melting into the comfort. They stay like this for a minute, before she realizes she is wasting time that could be vital to saving Peter. She steps away from the hug, looking at him again.
"Wanna tell me what happened?" he asks, concern in his face. He never tho0ught he would ever see MJ like this.
"It's Peter," she says, her voice cracked and small.
"What about Peter?" he follows.
"Remember how I told you something is wrong with him? Something other than grief? Well, I was right. I've been following him, I know it's super creepy but I needed to make sure he was okay, and I saw him straight up damage people. I saw his suit turn black," she tells him.
"Whoa," he starts, "Wait, you know about Spiderman?"
"I figured it out," she says, "But that's besides the point.
"Right," Ned says, "Keep going."
"So I followed him today and he was insane. He ate almost everything in Mr. Delmar's shop and then pushed him. And then he ran off and hit up a hamburger joint and started taking all the food, and then he almost choked some guy to death! I had to intervene. I couldn't let that happen. I called out his name and he got real pissed, yelled at me and all that. So I'm moping at home and I get a phone call," she starts to choke up.
"It's okay, go on," Ned tells her.
"He said he was sick, and that he's not him anymore. He said it wasn't safe to be around him and he was wincing in pain. Then he said he had to go, to tell you and May he loved you, and that he wasn't him anymore. Then, he hung up."
"Shit," Ned's gaze wanders, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Something is seriously wrong Ned," she tells him, "And I'm fucking scared. We need to do something now to save him, or it might be too late."
"What do you think's going on? Do you think someone's hurting him, or…is he hurting himself? Oh, fuck, is he hurting himself?" he panics.
"I think maybe both," she looks towards the carpet.
"What do you mean?" Ned asks.
"I think there's something inside Peter," she looks back up at him, "I know it sounds crazy but you didn't see him back there. That was not Peter in there, and I know it. I may not know him as much as you do, but I know him enough to understand that. Please, Ned. Help."
"It sounds insane, yeah," he says, "But I believe you. I don't think you'd be so upset if you were wrong. But what do you want me to do?"
"Do you have the information to contact Happy Hogan?" she asks.
"I can find his contact if I looked through the computer, since we've contacted him before on it. Just give me a sec, alright?" he sits down on his roll up chair and pulls up the computer, MJ quietly following up behind him.
After a few moments of searching, Ned finally found a way to contact the guy. He presses to video call, MJ sitting beside him.
"Hello?"
The confused face of Happy Hogan appears on screen, wondering why he answered an unknown number in the first place. When he sees the face of Ned looking back at him, he figures out why. "What did the kid do now?"
"Hi," MJ comes forward, and he can tell she had been crying. "My name is Michelle Jones, and I'm a friend of Peter Parker's. There is an emergency going on, and I thought you should know about it."
"An emergency?" he grows more alert.
"Peter has been acting very off tonight. I witnessed him first hand terrorize a sandwich shop and a burger joint, and that's not all. He called me on the phone, and said some scary things; things saying that he isn't here anymore, that he is dangerous, that is gone. I'm…I'm scared, and I knew that I couldn't sit back and watch it happen," she explains, "Because it might sound crazy, but I think something is inside of him."
Happy takes a moment to contemplate, considering the girl's words. For something he definitely wouldn't have taken seriously a year ago, he feels his heart drop down to his feet. "Do you know where Peter is?"
"No," her head tilts down.
"Okay, okay," Happy tries to think, "I'm gonna go get some people involved, and we'll be on our way to find him. You kids just sit back, and we'll let you know."
"Let us know?" she protests, "No, we need to help. We can help. We know Peter, we know the places he might be."
"I know him too," he answers, "I promise we'll get back to you, alright?"
MJ pouts her lip, feeling as if she might cry again. "Alright. I understand."
"Thank you for calling me," Happy nods, and the screen goes blank.
Ned takes a second to put his hand comfortingly on his friend's shoulder. "We're going after him, aren't we?"
MJ lets out a weak smile, happy that at least someone finally understands her. "Of course we are."
X
Sam Wilson has taken way too long to think, and now he almost curses himself for wasting time that may be vital. The kid's face has stayed in his head, his words repeating themselves.
This was a kid who was lost; who was in critical danger. Something he has learned to recognize in a person. He is the adult here; he is an Avenger. He knows that he has to act, and he has to act now.
"Hey guys," he calls, his message going to the remaining Avengers who could make it to the compound. "I'm calling an urgent meeting. There's something we need to discuss."
When Bruce gets the message, he knows exactly what it is about. As of late, he couldn't keep his mind off Peter; he couldn't stop thinking of how much help he needs. He was new to all of this – he doesn't know a whole lot about psychology, or teenagers, and the only thing he knows about processing grief is based on his own. When he saw this kid, he feels like a part of Tony is still with him, and for that he owes him the world.
Tony would've known what to do.
He trusts Sam, for this is a field he actually has some wisdom in. He trusts his team, because even through their rocky history, they know how to be there when someone needs it. Peter really did need it, too.
He leaves his current project to wait for him, taking off his safety goggles and turning to leave, turning back to his communicator. "On my way."
James Rhodes is feeling the same thing. He doesn't know Peter as well, certainly not as much as Tony did, but the kid has a place in his heart. Maybe to try to fill the void his late best friend left, maybe because he reminds him of being young – such an easier time.
He can't bare to see another team mate lost, no matter who they are. He can't bare to lose more family.
He hasn't spoken to Peter in a while. He had meant to, because Tony had meant so much to him too and he knows that they could use each other's comfort. He curses himself for his isolation – but maybe because every time he looked at the boy, he felt as if he were going to cry.
"Coming."
Natasha is nearly confused when she gets the message. It has been a while since the last urgent meeting – not since it happened. She hardly knows what is going on with her team mates these days. It has been far from lively at the compound, since they lost Tony and since Steve left.
Could the meeting be about Steve? Is he back? It's been so long since they've spoken, and she's worried sick. She has his number, but assumes he needs his space. Could the meeting be about someone else? About the Avengers who live away from the compound?
The new one? The kid?
She doesn't know. What she does know is that she's nearly fearless, and this time would be hard for the average person to handle; but she isn't the average person. She doesn't know what she is walking into, but she knows that she is needed.
"On it."
The four meet together, awkwardly sitting down as Sam gathers what he needs to say. He almost asks everyone how they are, but their faces give him the answer.
"Is this about Peter Parker?" Bruce asks, trying to get the point before it's potentially too late.
"Yes," Sam answers, "I met with him this afternoon."
"What happened?" Natasha asks. She doesn't know Spider-man hardly at all, but she knows he's a kid who stays out of trouble.
"When he spoke to me, he was full of absolute rage. Violent, even. He was hateful, and from what I've heard, that isn't normal with him. He was so desperate for an outlet for revenge; even said it himself. This kid may be dangerous, to himself and others," he explains.
"He wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone, not intentionally," Rhodey adds.
"Something is containing him, I think. Causing him to act out of the ordinary. Grief? Probably. But I think there could possibly be another factor," Sam responds.
"Well, I guess we are going to have to investigate," Natasha says, "He's one of us now, isn't he? The days of not looking out for each other are over."
In that moment, Happy bursts through the door. "I just got a call, about Peter Parker."
"We were just discussing the guy," Rhodey says.
"Two of his friends called me. One of them said she saw him starting some problems in public, and then gave her a phone call with what sounds to be some self-threats," he says.
"We need to find him," Bruce says, "Before someone gets hurt. Before he gets hurt. We already failed once. Maybe if we had been better to Tony, he would've actually called us for help. We can't fail someone else too."
Everyone is silent for a moment. He is right.
"It's time to put an end to this," Rhodey says, "We have to save this kid as soon as we can. We owe that much to Tony, don't you think?"
"When I talked to Peter, he talked about that," Sam looks down in sadness, "He has resentment because he blames us for treating Tony badly. We can't blame him, either."
"Look," Natasha adds, "It may not have always seemed like it, but I loved the guy. I'm hurting too. If helping that kid would honor his memory, that's what we have to do. No questions asked. I'm in."
"So am I," Bruce says, "Of course I am."
Happy, Rhodey and Sam nod too, all committing to the operation.
"But," Natasha says, "I think there's one more person we need to call. He needs this too."
They all exchange glances, knowing who she means.
"You're right," Rhodey says, "We need him too."
Without another word, Natasha reaches for her phone and dials Steve Rogers.
Happy goes to the other room, because he knows May Parker needs a call too.
May is in a good mood as she arrives home. She had a good day at work, and she knows Peter will be delighted to learn that she plans to make his favorite meal tonight.
"Peter? I'm home!" she announces, opening the front door.
Silence.
"Peter? Where are you?" she walks further into the apartment, her eyes scanning for him.
The apartment is vacant, and every room has an open door.
She assumes that he might have went to Ned's, or went on patrol. She hated the idea, but she knew there was nothing she could do to stop him.
She decides to call him, to ease her nerves that any parental figure gets when the child is missing. As soon as it starts ringing, though, she hears his ringtone coming from the bathroom.
His phone is laying on the bathroom floor, with no Peter to be seen.
"That's strange," she says to herself, picking it up.
He must have just forgotten it; or it had dropped out of his pocket.
Just as the thought crosses her head, her own ringtone goes off.
Happy Hogan.
"Hello?" she answers, "Happy, is Peter with you by any chance?"
Happy frowns, for his answer has been given. "I was about to ask you the same thing. Are you certain he's not at home?"
"No…" she responds, "I just checked the whole apartment, and he left his phone here. Is everything alright?"
"I'm sorry to say that Peter is missing right now, May. His friends called reporting his suspicious activity, and today he told a counselor I had him see some concerning things. But I want you not to worry, the Avengers have this under control."
"Missing?!" she panics, "What do you mean missing?"
"We're going to need you to stay home, and we'll have him home as soon as possible," he says.
"How do you expect me to stay home?" she asks, "He could be in danger!"
"And that's precisely why you need to stay home," he says, "Please, May. I'm going to need you to trust us so we could do our jobs."
She leans against the wall and sits, almost feeling a tear grow in her eye. "Okay. But if you don't find him in an hour, I'm coming."
"We'll be working as fast as we can," he says, "Thank you."
He hangs up.
A single tear falls down her cheek.
Missing.
A single tear turns into a sob.
X
MJ and Ned have exited Ned's home and are running down the road, escaping the suburbs and heading to the raw streets of Queens. They were going to find their friend, and nobody was going to stop them.
"Where do you think he would go?" Ned asks.
"When I would follow him, I often saw him in the alley on fourth street. It wouldn't hurt to check there."
Ned nods, and they head for the alley as fast as they can. When they arrive, it is vacant.
"Damnit," MJ curses herself.
"We can still check all of the alleys," Ned says, "He likes to hang out in them. He must be in one."
As their eyes scan each alley in search of him, their blood rushes. The adrenaline grows more intense with each empty alley and they feel as if their veins are going to burst, or their heart will shoot straight out of their chests. That is incomparable, though, to the rush that hits them when they do find him.
They see the back of a boy with chocolate hair wearing a black suit, staring at the wall of the alley that Tony was murdered in.
"Peter!" Ned calls out, and Peter's figure turns around abruptly. His eyes are pure white and his mouth lays in a straight line, his face empty of emotion.
"There is no Peter," he replies, his voice deep, "Not anymore."
"Peter," Ned pleads, "I need you bro. You're my best friend. Come back, man."
"No!" he shouts, "I can't come back. Not anymore."
"Pete, listen to me," MJ steps forward, "This isn't you. I know who you are. You're Peter and you're warm and you're kind and you're loving. You aren't hate, or rage, or broken. Let us help you. We can make you better."
"You're right," he says, his straight lined-lips turning into a smirk. "This isn't Peter."
He steps closer, and his body grows. Ned stands back in horror, but MJ walks closer, looking up at him, not an ounce of fear in her eyes. "There is only…"
A black head grows over Peter, big white eyes and unbelievably large teeth.
"Venom."