Written by Sara K.
(A/N) FINALLY. Crazy work/life schedule plus a bit of writer's block is never a good mixture. I apologize. This chapter is a bit off road from the plot but one I've been waiting to write for character purposes for a while. Also a bit dark of a chapter. The next one will be angsty but happier...maybe...hopefully...
Peter silently listened to the rain drops hitting the windshield as he stared out of it. A crack of thunder and a gust of wind filled up the gaps between droplets. The storm had truly picked up its pace since they pulled over.
Suddenly, a large puff of smoke blew out from behind the car hood along with a loud pop.
Peter jumped up in his seat as Tony slammed the hood of the car closed. He let out a cough and hit against his chest, blowing out a bit of smoke from his lungs. A black splash of liquid sat on Tony's cheek that he quickly smeared away with the back of his hand; dripping down his face along with the rain water.
Peter watched Tony make his way around from the hood to the driver's side. He then whipped open the car door and threw himself into the seat; closing the door behind him.
Tony's soaked clothes dripped onto the floorboards while his hair sat plastered flat against his head; the baseball cap not protecting much from the storm.
He pulled on the edges of his jacket and sighed.
Peter frowned. "That bad?"
"Totaled."
He pressed his lip together, trying to think. "What's the plan now?"
Tony stared for a moment before he pulled out his phone from his pocket. He pressed a few things and scrolled through a list. He let out another irritated sigh.
"What's wrong Mr. Stark?"
"Well my first plan was wait out the storm but it's supposed to last for the rest of the night." He crossed his arms. "And I'm not exactly interested in waiting for Arthur and his goons to find us here."
"What about a tow truck?"
"Too risky. They might've known our car was on its death bed."
"Taxi?"
"I checked. There aren't any services anywhere in range."
"Your suit?"
"Has no flight power after the motel fiasco. Also it's still too unreliable to fly after whatever AIM did to it." Tony scoffed. "And not exactly low profile."
"My suit?"
"See any buildings to swing off of?"
Peter shrugged. "So what then?"
Tony clenched his jaw and stared down the road.
"There's always the original mode of transportation."
Peter squinted. "What's that?"
Tony turned his gaze over to Peter.
The kid stayed staring back at him, glancing over his face before it hit him.
"Mr. Stark are you serious?! We can't just walk!"
"Just to the nearest town. I'll figure out a way to get back to Queens after."
"Well- how far's the nearest town?"
"Couple of miles."
"A couple?"
"Double digits."
"Mr. Stark-"
"It's that or become sitting ducks till AIM finds the one car with bullet holes not too far off from our motel."
"But-"
"Do you have a better plan?"
Peter bit his lip, letting out a defeated breath. "No..."
"Well then," Tony nodded, "we walk."
The heavy showers doubled the weight of the clothes on their back.
The two trudged down the shoulder of the asphalt road; their soaking shoes sloshing in and out of puddles.
Tony had thrown his hood over his cap and sunglasses on his face. Sure, the sun wasn't shining, but it kept the wind and rain out of his eyes. His satchel swayed back and forth at his hip while his armored backpack was slung over his right shoulder.
Peter pulled down on the hood of his own jacket. His hands clasped around his backpack straps as he rolled his eyes at each new mud puddle he stepped in.
They were surrounded by thick trees and the straight narrow dark road that seemed to stretch on to the horizon. As if it was a path to the world's edge.
Peter felt his shoulders begin to shiver. The rain water soaking his skin.
"Mr. Stark, how much farther?"
"Can you still see the car?"
Peter turned around to see the tiny figure of the vehicle far off.
"Yeah."
"Then pretty much the same distance as when you asked me in the car."
Peter huffed in response.
Just as he was about to turn away from their rented bullet riddled car, Peter noticed a pair of headlights roll down the hill behind them.
"Mr. Stark!"
"Kid, I'm not gonna let you ask me 'are we there yet?' every couple of yards."
"No, there's a car!"
"So?"
"So let's see if we can catch a ride!"
Tony scoffed. "No."
"Why not?"
"Cause we're in the middle of back end nowhere and I'm not letting us get picked up by a complete stranger."
"Isn't that what a taxi does?"
Tony shook his head. "That's different, they get paid for it. There's an incentive to not be a psycho hick."
Peter shook his head and turned to the car. He waved his hands high in the air, back and forth as big as he could. His face lighting up when he realized he had caught the driver's attention.
"He's pulling over!"
Tony snapped around to see Peter standing there triumphantly, the van rolling to a stop a few feet away. He looked over the car before stepping up beside Peter.
"Parker, the one car you pull over is a white panel van. Two things happen in those: molestation and murder. Neither of those are things I wanna do today."
Peter scoffed. "Come on Mr. Stark." He gave a pat on Tony's shoulder before rushing over to the van's passenger window.
A man about ten years Tony's senior sat inside. He had salt and pepper hair with a tattered cap and gloves on.
"Hi!" Peter greeted him.
"You guys need a lift there?" The man asked.
"Yeah, just into the nearest town if it's not too much trouble."
"Sure thing, headed there myself." He nodded. "Hop in!"
Peter looked over at Tony, waving him closer.
Tony crossed his arms, giving a single shake of his head.
Peter raised an eyebrow. "Then have fun walking in the rain!" He took the van's handle and slid open the panel, climbing inside.
"Shit..." Tony shook his head.
He quickly dashed across the road and climbed into the van, slamming the door behind him.
Tony sat in the seat beside Peter and sighed.
The car began to roll forwards before the man at the wheel spoke again.
"I'm Jacob. What's your names?"
"I'm...Pet...Patrick." Peter nodded. "Yeah, my name's Patrick."
"Alright." Jacob chuckled. "And you sir?"
"Howard." Tony said flatly.
"Howard and Patrick." Jacob grinned. "Was it a father-son camping trip gone wrong?"
Peter looked over at Tony; a grin stretched from ear to ear. He held up three fingers and mouthed 'three times!' in his direction.
Tony pinched the bridge of his his nose before slipping off his glasses. "Yeah. Exactly that."
"Ah, thought so." Jacob laughed. "Someone forget to check the weather?"
"Yeah, my dad just was sure it'd be sunny all week." Peter smiled, shaking his head.
"Silly me." Tony leaned back in his seat.
"Well don't beat yourself up too bad. Flash rains are pretty common in these parts." Jacob nodded.
"Mm..." Was Tony's only response. His eyes on the window.
A hushed silence fell over the car. The only sound came from the rain and the heater kicking in. Peter shifted in the cramped seat. The van was filled with boxes and bags. Peter had to move his legs to the edge of the door so he wouldn't step on anything.
"Hey there son," Jacob nodded, catching Peter's eye in the rearview. "I can move this stuff to the back if you'd like to sit up front."
"No, he's fine back here." Tony quickly snapped, putting a hand on Peter's shoulder.
Peter scoffed a bit. "It's alright. Thank you for the offer Mr. Jacob."
"Please, Jacob is fine." The man nodded again.
Peter looked down at the boxes and noticed a small pink purse. He picked it up and looked it over before turning back up at the man ahead of him. "What's all this stuff for sir?"
"I work for a local business in town. Just delivering a shipment over to them."
"What kind of business?"
"We sell used things."
"Like a thrift store?"
"Eh more or less. More like a pawn shop."
"That's cool." Peter placed the purse back down.
"Do you work son?"
"Me? Nah, just work hard at school." Peter smiled.
Jacob chuckled. "We'll keep at it. I'm sure your pops would agree."
"Sure do." Tony stayed, not shifting his attention away from the window.
"What do you do Howard?"
"I'm a mechanic."
"A mechanic?"
"Yup."
"And you couldn't fix up your car?" Jacob said playfully.
"Hilarious."
"I kid." The man laughed. "Your Dad always in such a sour mood?"
Tony scrunched up his face. "I'm right here."
"It's just been a long day." Peter shrugged.
"I understand that." Jacob tapped the steering wheel. "I have lots of those."
Looking out the window, Tony saw lights from a cluster of buildings flash by.
"Um...we just pasted the town."
"Oh that pit stop? Not much of a town there sir."
"That's alright, we can stop there anyways-"
"Trust me, I don't mind taking you downtown. I'm headed there anyways so it's no trouble."
Tony rubbed his hands over his face before leaning back in his seat.
The silence settled back in.
They drove for a ways before Jacob spoke up once again.
"Do I know you from somewhere Howard?"
"Huh?" Tony turned up to the man. "Oh no, I doubt it." He said, pulling down on his cap.
"My dad's just got one of those faces." Peter chuckled, trying to loosen the tension.
Tony then moved his armored bag from his lap to his feet and left it there; putting his legs in front of it.
"You brought a laptop on a camping trip?"
Tony turned up to Jacob's voice. His eyes on the satchel beside him.
"Just to check on work every once in a while."
"As a mechanic?"
Jacob's tone was different now. Almost as if he was on the offensive.
Tony pressed his lips together. "Yup. Financials and all."
Jacob nodded. "What kind of machine is that? Been thinking about getting a new computer myself."
"Um..." Tony stuttered. It was Stark Tech: but bringing up his own name didn't seem like a smart move; no matter how much he'd like to endorse his own products. "You know I don't know. I don't really work with computers much, just got recommended to me by the guy at the store."
"I'll try that." Jacob nodded.
The silence settled again. The car drove on. Rain poured down against the windows.
They watched rows and rows of trees pass by.
It felt as if they'd been driving forever in a sea of awkward tension.
Peter tapped his foot. The tingling on his skin making him antsy. "Excuse me, but how far out are we?"
"Not too far now son, don't worry."
They drove on.
Suddenly, the van began to slow.
Peter and Tony perked up to see he was veering off to the road's shoulder.
Tony leaned over. "Um...what's, what's going on?"
"Don't worry," Jacob nodded. "Just taking a quick leak and then we'll get back on the road."
"We're not close enough to the town for you to do it there?" Tony narrowed his eyes.
"Relax sir. I'll get you guys there soon."
The man then pulled out the keys and stuck them in the overhead visor. He flipped it shut and adjusted his belt before opening the side door. Jacob then stepped out of the van, walking around to the back.
Tony glanced over at Peter.
"It's not that weird, right?" Peter shrugged.
Tony cast the kid a look before turning his focus to the front seat. His eyes landed on the visor.
"No no no, can't just steal his car Mr. Stark!"
"Kid. We don't even know where we're going."
"Just cause the dude's acting sketchy doesn't mean we can just take his car!"
"Why would you take out the keys just to go to the bathroom? Better yet, why go in the pouring rain if we're so close to town?"
"I don't know! But we can't just-"
"I'm not gonna risk you Parker." Tony reached over the console and flipped down the visor. He grabbed the keys and- froze in place.
A chill running down his spine.
"Mr. Stark?" Peter leaned in.
Tony reached up to the visor and pulled out a small photo that had been pinned to it. He leaned back in his seat, staring at it a moment before flipping the picture over for Peter to see.
In the photo was a young couple, early thirties. The man had blonde hair and the woman had dark hair. Standing between them was a young girl, seven or eight.
In her hands she held the small pink purse.
Peter's eyes widened.
He shifted his focus from the picture back to Tony. He caught Tony's gaze staring past him, on the floor of the car. Peter turned, following him.
Sitting at Peter's feet was the same pink purse.
Tony nodded. "Don't do anything."
Peter turned back to him. "Mr. Stark-"
"Nothing." Tony nodded again. He stared Peter down a moment before leaning over.
Just as he grabbed the straps of his armored back pack, the panel door beside Tony flew open.
"It's an honor Ironman."
Tony turned up at Jacob's voice; the gun in the other man's hand waved around in his face.
Jacob smiled. "Come on, I seriously got Tony Stark in my van and I'm not supposed to know that cause of a baseball cap?! You gotta do better on your disguises sir."
Tony stared back at him blankly.
"Who's that?" Jacob nodded to Peter. "Your accident?" The man chuckled. "Making up for lost time?"
"Listen, I'll give you everything in my wallet, just let us walk." Tony said calmly.
"No can do sir." Jacob shrugged. "I'm afraid the couple hundreds in there wouldn't compare to whatever THAT thing is."
Tony followed Jacob's gesture down to his bag.
"Hand it over kindly, would you sir?" Jacob reached out, an open hand out to him.
Tony felt the weight in the car shift behind him. He quickly held up an empty hand, signaling Peter to stop whatever he was doing.
Tony kept his eyes on Jacob a moment longer before picking up the bag in both hands. He slowly moved towards him before-
WHAM
Swinging the bag upwards, Tony knocked Jacob off balance. He then leapt out of the van and tackled Jacob onto the ground, dropping the metal bag and getting control of his gun.
The two wrestled and grabbed at each other in the mud.
Jacob then kneed Tony in the side and was able to get his armed hand out from his grasp. Jacob then wound back before pistol whipping Tony hard in the face.
"UGHH!"
Tony stumbled off of him, blood pouring from his nose. He spat on the ground and held it's bruised bridge, trying to fight back the pain.
Mud and blood was all he could taste in his mouth as he tried to get his bearings.
CLICK
The sound of a gun cocking above Tony's head wasn't much of a comfort.
"STOP!"
Peter jumped onto the man, yanking the muzzle away from Tony's head.
Jacob tried to pull free from the kid but Peter's strength far out matched him.
He then quickly shoved Peter forwards, throwing him off before slamming Peter's head against the van door.
Peter groaned.
A thin stream of blood dripped down from his hairline.
His head was spinning.
Jacob shook himself off. "Shoulda stayed in the van son."
He then leaned over, picking Peter up by the collar and holding the gun against his temple.
Tony stumbled to his feet, hand still over his broken nose.
"Give me the bag sir."
Tony's eyes shifted from Peter's face to Jacob's.
"This what you do huh?" Tony adjusted his jaw. "You steal people's shit and throw them in a ditch?"
"The bag or I shoot your son right now."
"The family who's van you stole. Did you kill them? Threaten to murder the daughter?"
Jacob smirked. "Let's just say they had bigger problems then a stolen van."
A short silence hung as Tony stared him down.
"You're a psychopath."
"Me? I'm an entrepreneur."
Tony scoffed. "You're a murderer."
"I've killed less than you."
Nothing.
"The great Tony Stark. Biggest mass murderer the world has ever seen. Compared to you I think I'm doing alright."
Tony was at a loss for words. All that held him was the pang in his chest and the pouring rain surrounding him.
"M-Mr. Stark..." Peter grunted.
Tony caught the gaze of a scared kid. Blood dripping down his face as the muzzle of a gun pressed into his skin.
"Bag." Jacob simply stated.
Tony stared at Peter a moment before nodding. He lifted the bag off the flooded grass and dropped it over at Jacob's feet.
"Hands in the air."
Tony followed.
"Now on your knees."
"Is that really necess-"
"KNEES!"
Tony shook his head but complied.
The air held a moment before Jacob let out a low laugh.
He moved the gun in Tony's direction, a tight grip still firmly on Peter.
"I'm gonna be the guy who kills Ironman." He smirked. "I'll truly be doing the world a service honestly."
Tony stared up at him. A blank coldness in his eyes.
Jacob then let go of Peter, letting him collapse to the ground.
"But not till I take out his unknown kid in front of him."
"Let him go."
"Nah. He's seen my face. Can't do that." He bit his lip, glancing down at Peter. "It'll tear me up, he seemed like a sweet kid. But someone's gotta avenge all the poor people in Sokovia right? Cause it's not gonna be you." He paused. "Do you know families- children died there right?"
Tony flashed a broken grin. "Like you give a shit."
Jacob smiled back. "True. But it felt damn good to say." He kept the gun on Tony and turned back to Peter. "I'll pop his kneecaps, maybe break a wrist or two. Then I'll blow his brains out. And you can watch it all in glorious 3D sir."
Just as Jacob was about to turn back to catch Tony's terrified begging face, he was instead met by Tony slamming his body against him, knocking him into the dirt. He shoved the gun in the air as the two stumbled backwards.
Tony's cold blank stare turned into one of red rage.
The men rolled back and forth, fumbling with the weapon. Both doing their best to gain its control.
One then passed on to another.
The two locked in a maddened scramble when-
A gunshot.
Jacob's body went limp.
Tony climbed back to his feet.
Mud and blood coated his soaking frame.
He tossed the pistol into a nearby puddle.
Rain poured on.
"Mr. Stark..."
Tony looked over to see Peter leaned up against the van.
He took a few steps towards Tony before stumbling.
Tony jumped forwards and caught him in his arms.
"It's alright. You're alright Pete."
"I'm...dizzy Mr. Stark..."
"It's ok. You just got hit on the head. Let's get you in the van ok?"
Peter looked up at him. A flicker of fear in his eyes.
"I got you. You're alright ok?" Tony nodded.
Peter then looked back at the ground and leaned against him. Tony got his arms around Peter before leading him to the van. He helped him inside.
"Alright, lay here ok?"
Peter nodded faintly and followed Tony's guiding hands.
Once Peter was down, Tony quickly took the pink purse and the family photo. He grabbed a red pen from the passenger seat and scribbled on the back of the photo.
He then dropped the purse beside Jacob's lifeless body.
Tony sighed, looking him over one last time.
Another body to add on the list.
Tony took the family phot and flipped it over, tucking it in Jacob's jacket pocket. The beginning of the word 'Murderer' written in red ink was just visible above the pocket.
Tony then closed the back door of the van before climbing into the driver's seat.
He gave Peter one last glance before peeling off down the road.