Here we go, things will definitely start getting interesting from now on.
White Tiger slashed at Morlun; her teeth bared in a savage snarl. The man was practically a ping pong ball at this point. When they arrived and saw the monster beating Spider-Man to a bloody pulp, Luke had barreled forward like a freight train, knocking him off their spider. Nick Fury took the position of defense at Peter's side while they took out their frustrations on the source of all their current problems. The one responsible for the spider's soon to be demise.
Something was off though. White Tiger could feel it as they pummeled the monster. Morlun wasn't putting up much of a fight, he barely even noticed the hits he was taking. In fact, he seemed downright out of it. His gaze not even acknowledging their presence. Instead, all his attention was on the fallen form of their leader. White Tiger glanced Peter's way, wondering what was so fascinating and her eyes widened when she noticed Fury bow his head and take the hand of Spider-Man. Her heart fell and suddenly, she knew.
"He's gone," Morlun sneered, prompting the Tiger to swallow a sob.
"Wait…what?" Nova paused in his barrage of attacks, Iron Fist and Power Man mirroring his movements as all went still.
"The spider has passed from this life," Morlun elaborated in an irritated huff, "my prey has escaped me."
"Pete's…gone?" Luke began to shake his head slowly in disbelief, broad shoulders quivering.
"But we weren't there." Nova murmured softly, eyes wide with shock and quickly filling with tears "We should have been there."
Their enemy rolled his eyes, straightening his clothes nonchalantly like a man mildly inconvenienced by the weather instead of having caused the death of a superhero, "What difference would it have made if you had been there?" he sighed imperiously, "It wouldn't have changed anything. He would still be dead, and I will have been deprived of my meal."
That was the moment Danny Rand snapped. The silent sage of the group shaking with an unbounding rage as the flame in his right hand grew into an inferno that encapsulated his entire right arm. "Your meal?!" Iron Fist snarled, making his teammates jump back in shock. "You dare call that honorable warrior something as degrading as your meal?!"
Morlun smirked, giving a careless shrug, "What more could he possibly be?" he asked with a haughty sniff, "Spider-Man, in any dimension, is merely food. His life, his mission, all that he holds dear is meaningless. All it serves is to feed me and my kind, nothing more."
Iron Fists eyes widened, and the teen grit his teeth hard enough to make his jaw creak. In movements faster than anyone knew he was capable, Danny darted forward and exploded a devastating hit on Morlun's jaw sending the vampire flying, "How DARE YOU!"
"Whoa…" Ava murmured as she and the rest of the team watched in stunned awe.
Morlun was air born for well over fifty feet before his back met the side of a metal shipping crate, creating a large dent that folded the container in half. Danny was on top of him in a split second, the sound of each blow echoing through the docks as he continued raining righteous fury down onto the creature's face, "He was my friend!" Danny bellowed, voice cracking as his fist flew in continuous motion, "he stood up for me when I had no one else! He put his life on the line for all of us! He was a true warrior and someone I saw as my brother! And you DARE dismiss his legacy?! I won't let you!"
Rearing back for another hit, Iron Fist was shocked when the man he currently held under him not only blocked it but caught the fist as it flew towards his face. Danny screamed in agony as the man's hand opened with glowing purple marks that extinguished the flame, eating it greedily, Morlun only grimaced, "Disgusting," he muttered, standing to his feet and casually throwing Iron Fist to the side, "you honestly think that you can harm me? Even minutes from his deathbed the Spider's attacks were ten times more powerful than what you have to offer."
Iron Fist groaned from where he lay on the ground, cradling his arm even as his eyes flashed with the need for vengeance, "We'll take you down," he spat "you will never know another moment of peace on this earth as long as we have breath in our bodies."
"Then this world holds no more interest for me. With the Spider dead there is no reason to stay." Morlun shrugged, "You have no chance of defeating me and I don't feel like enduring your attempts on retribution."
With that said, a portal of dark energy writhing with purple lightening opened behind the monster, and with one last smirk he stepped through it. The docks fall silent, and Danny slammed his fist into the ground as their enemy had effectively escaped. There would be no catching him now, he was as good as lost. Heaving a groan, Iron Fist pushed his body off the ground, "The Spider," he sighed, guilt at not avenging his friend already curling in his stomach "we have to go to him."
Nova stooped down and pulled Danny to his feet, allowing his teammate to lean on him as they made their way back to Spider-Man. "Don't beat yourself up," Nova said quietly, his tone as serious as it was gentle, "we had no chance against him."
The monk bit his lip, closing his eyes for a brief second before nodding slowly, "I know," he rasped in reply "I only wish we could have done more."
Reaching where Peter lay, Ava fell to her knees at the teen hero's side, clutching his left hand. Fury sat in solemn silence, still clasping the red clad fingers he had taken right before Parker had passed. If not for the blood and amount of damage suffered by Morlun, the spider could almost have been described as peaceful. The ocean breeze played with the bits of hair poking out from the rips to his mask. His face free of worry lines and stress, a small smile quirking the corners of his lips. Peter had gone out his way, like a hero, and not a bedridden invalid. In a sense, it was understandable that he would prefer dying like this, as opposed to wasting away in a medical ward.
"I called Stark," Fury informed the group, though none could miss the grief rasping the undertones of his words, "he's on his way now to pick up the…to pick up…" Fury paused to take a breath and force his emotions into submission before giving a hoarse whisper, "to take Parker somewhere more private."
The Director gave a mournful sigh. Soon Iron Man would arrive, and he would fly off with the body. They would keep it as quiet as possible. No one should know that Spider-Man died. At least not yet. And God help J. Jonah Jameson if he tried to do a hit piece on the day they release the news. Fury would ensure that at least the Daily Bugle would write something respectful. Let Jameson call him a menace or a tyrant, or any other colorful name he can come up with. Peter deserved that much.
The team sat in a silent vigil around the body of their leader. Even Nova was quiet, words failing them as they reflected on the life of Spider-Man. Several moments passed, until Ava hugged the hand she had been clutching, and in halting tones heavy with grief, she spoke in a broken whisper, "I'm sorry, Pete," she murmured through her tears, "I promised you that we'd find a cure, that you'd live. I'm sorry we couldn't keep that promise."
"We all failed him," Luke wept, wrapping an arm around the Tiger and pulling her close.
Nova pulled his legs up, wrapping his arms around them and burying his face between his knees. Soft sobs shook the young guardian's frame, even as he tried valiantly to stifle them. Iron Fist bowed his head, resting it on Sam's shoulder, peeling off his mask to reveal a tear-stained face. Fury allowed his eye to rest on each teen hero, the painful knowledge that this wouldn't be the last time they would see a friend die at the hand of an enemy twisting in his chest. However, he couldn't let them stay in this state. They needed to use this as motivation to forge ahead and continue protecting the world the way Spider-Man would want them to.
"No one failed," Fury stated, his face aflame with determination, "least of all Parker. He did what was necessary to protect this city, and its people. His actions were that of a hero, one we can be proud of, and honor in the years to come. We will remember his legacy, and know that even in death, he chose to do what was best for all those he cared about."
A new wave of grief enveloped the teens, but this time accompanied by a stubborn fire in their hearts. Hands clutched into fists; silent promises were made that they would live in a way that honored their leader's legacy. And all affirmed in their hearts that Spider-Man would never be forgotten. Suddenly the sound of repulsor engines caused the group to look up. Tony Stark flew across the sky at breakneck speed and landed onto the concrete dock with a bang.
"Oh, kiddo," Iron Man approached Peter's body, his movements devoid of his usual swagger. The metal man clunked down beside Fury, and even through the helmet the group could hear Tony Stark weep, "I'm so sorry kid, I'm so sorry."
Fury moved aside, allowing the only other father figure in Peter's life take his spot. For all the rumors and bad press about the man, Tony Stark was not without feeling. And in this moment, he allowed his gentler side to be viewed as he mourned the loss of a brilliant star. Reaching down, Tony tenderly gathered the slim form into his arms, holding it against him in an embrace as his head bowed with grief. Finally, after almost five minutes, Iron Man spoke.
"I'm taking him to Avenger's Tower," he rasped, tone refusing any potential arguments, "we can take care of him there."
Fury simply nodded. Spider-Man was an Avenger and deserved the Pomp and Circumstance that came with the position. He wouldn't deny the boy that. "Unfortunately, we still need to find a way to …modify his body," Stark sighed "we can't forget that Peter Parker died as well. In his current state it is obvious that he was beaten to death. We'll need to use the next several hours to construct a plausible reason and story behind how Peter Parker died."
Fury frowned, knowing this was a necessary conversation, even though he could feel the growing horror mounting in the team. This was part of the hero life, they would learn this with time, and more deaths. "Do we have options?"
"The simplest option would be to make the body disappear. Say from a boating accident or something, but since the hero in question is a juvenile, we don't have that luxury as it's rare a 15-year-old would simply be out on a boat on their own." Stark listed, his voice growing distant, business like, no doubt to shield himself from the grim reality of what they were discussing. "Also, we'll need to break the news to his aunt. The second option is a variation of the first, being that we modify the injuries to look as if they were caused by a ship propellor. Maybe say he was near the docks with friends, fell in and was dragged under. That could be our best bet. However-"
"The eye would still be hard to explain," Fury finished. It was evident by the marks that the slash that destroyed his eye was something akin to a beast, not a ship propellor.
"Exactly," Stark whispered before clearing his throat "The last option is a fire of significant heat to burn away defensive wounds. We'd have to arrange for some debris to crush parts of the body to account for the shattered bones-,"
"Just STOP!" Ava suddenly screamed, standing with her hands clenched in fists at her sides "I can't take it anymore!"
Tony reared back as if he only just noticed the presence of Peter's S.H.I.E.L.D. team, "I-I'm sorry," he stammered, "I didn't realize…"
"What does it matter what you realize?!" the Tiger snarled, "How can you talk about putting Pete through even more like it's nothing?!"
"Stand down, White Tiger," Fury commanded, features set in a frown.
"NO! I won't stand down!" Ava roared back, choked sobs crackling through her words "He's been through enough, you hear me!? He's been through ENOUGH!"
"You think we don't know that?!" Fury bellowed, standing up so to loom over the disconsolate girl noting how her team rushed to back her up. Shifting his focus, Fury included the four members still standing in his statement "No one enjoys the responsibility of a hero's death. It isn't discussed because even legends like Captain America can't stomach the conversation. However, it is necessary. Do you want May Parker to be targeted by Spider-Man's enemies? Do you want MJ or Harry, his friends, to find themselves at the wrong end of a supervillain's weapon as they are taken as a consolation prize? Is that what you want?!"
Ava shuddered, anger warring with shocked disbelief and sorrow. Shoulders shaking, the girl could only choke, "No, that's not what he would want."
"Then let us do our jobs and protect Spider-Man in death, even as he protected us in life."
Fury immediately turned on his heel, leaving the group on the docks. "Stark, take care of Parker. I'll be by tonight to discuss what we need to do moving forward."
Iron Man nodded and took to the sky. Ava and her team watched as he flew away, Peter's body still cradled in the metal arms. How long they stayed in that spot, no one really knew. All they could do was hold each other and grieve.
…..
It had been three hours since Tony Stark had dropped off Peter's remains with the attendant in charge of the Avenger's morgue. That particular floor was one shunned by the Avengers. It wasn't talked about or acknowledged, but its number hung in the elevator as a constant reminder of the consequences of their choices. Tony hated that it had to exist but hated even more the idea of any of his friends or comrades being turned into sideshow events in the press circus. Now, the man was pressing the button so to check on the floor's newest resident. A hero far too young and full of potential to be settled there.
Tony leaned against the wall of the elevator with a groan. Massaging his temples, the man suddenly felt incredibly old and horribly tired. How did it come to this? It felt like only yesterday he had been encouraging the kid that they would find a cure, only to fail Spider-Man. Some hero he was, couldn't even keep a promise to save the life of a friend and the closest thing he had to almost a son. Tony wanted to grieve. To cry and scream, and beat a few practice dummies into sawdust, but he was just so tired. Tired of watching those close to him die. He didn't have any tears left.
The elevator beeped, signaling its arrival; but as the doors slid open, Tony startled when he heard a crash and a scream. Running out of the elevator, the scientist sprinted to the room where he heard the commotion and came into a scene almost out of a science fiction film.
"What?!" he gasped.
The lead doctor and his team of nurses stood by each wearing looks of varying degrees of horror. A cart loaded with medical instruments lay on its side, one wheel still rolling as the many tools scattered across the floor. The worst part was what was left of Peter's body. It lay on a table, motionless. But it had somehow been ripped down the middle, looking very much like the leftover skin shed by a snake. Tony stamped down the urge to gag, even as the scientist in him gaped in wonder. What had happened to Spider-Man?
"What happened in here?"
"We left to prepare for the upcoming procedure," the lead doctor stammered, his face wild with confusion and fear, "but when we got here, we found the body like that, and…"
"And?!" Tony shook the doctor but the only reply he received was a shaky hand pointing up towards the ceiling.
Turning around, Tony's jaw dropped as the talkative man was struck speechless.
Up in the corner of the ceiling, a large web sac hung. It resembled an egg sac hung by trillions of spiders all over the world, but it was about a thousand times bigger. It was huge, swollen and firmly secured to the wall. It was a waxy white, but there was something about it that made Tony narrow his eyes and focus closely on it. The sac itself was hung right in front of a flashing yellow light; part of the alarm system that must have been flipped in the commotion. As the light strobed through the sac, Tony's eyes widened, and a short huff of disbelief shook his broad shoulders. With each pass of light, Tony could just barely see the outline of a teenage male form curled up inside.
"Peter?"
…
"Say what?!"
Fury slammed his way through the door of the morgue into the room where Parker had been taken. He expected to find Tony standing with the doctors preparing Spider-Man's remains for the public. What he found was a husk that resembled Parker, and Tony Stark nowhere near it but was instead on a ladder poking a…what was that thing?
"What is going on?" Fury demanded.
"For once in my life," Tony laughed, his features bubbly and almost edging on hysterical, "I have NO IDEA!"
Rolling his eye, Fury crossed his arms and tapped a foot, "You better explain to me what I'm looking at here, and you better do it quickly."
Tony spread his hands helplessly, his mouth working but no coherent words coming out. The reaction only irritated Fury further, and the man stomped his way up the other side of the ladder till he was eye level with Iron Man. "Ok, why aren't you with Parker?" the man growled.
The scientist giggled, making Fury lean back in shock, "That's just it," Tony replied, indisputably overjoyed, "I think I am!"
"Come again?"
"I think he's right here!"
Fury slowly looked down at Parker's remains, then just as slowly cast his gaze up to the large thing suspended above him. "He's in this?"
Tony merely grinned, "I think so,"
"How? The kid is dead…isn't he?" Fury spluttered.
Holding up one finger in a silent request that the Director wait a moment, Tony reached up to the web sac and placed a large stethoscope against it. Fury watched; eye wide as Stark wilted in front of him. Tears spilled over and dripped down the brunette goatee. The scientist melted in a mix of sobs and laughter. Without speaking, the man tore the stethoscope off and placed it onto Fury before replacing the tool back against the side of the sac. Fury's brow furrowed as he focused on the small sound, but then found his own throat constrict with relief when he heard the noise that had rendered Tony speechless.
A heartbeat.
…..
"HE'S ALIVE?!"
Hank Pym, Walter Cage, Reed Richards and Bruce Banner shoved their way into the now crowded morgue. All were in shock but were not hiding the joy at the fact their spider wasn't dead after all.
"Yes," Tony nodded holding a small syringe of fluid, "I extracted this from inside the web sac, and I have positively confirmed that it is Spider-Man's DNA."
"How?" Reed gaped, his eyes bouncing between the husk of Peter's body and the web sac.
"I…have no idea," Tony chuckled, still amazed at finding something he couldn't explain, "the only thing I've come up with is that some species of spider can shed their skin once in their life to heal from injuries or sickness and literally start all over again!"
"So, is that what Peter did?" Walter asked, his mind already reeling with the need to tell his son as soon as possible.
"Not consciously," Tony affirmed, "I think his death was actually a mutation."
Bruce pursed his lips, piecing together what he'd been told and his knowledge of radiation, "Wait," he said slowly, eyes widening "if spiders shed their skin to heal themselves and start over, then it's entirely possible that Peter's 'death' wasn't even an illness to begin with?"
"Oh, ohhh," Reed finally caught on, his stretchy powers making his jaw drop to comic proportions "oh this…this is magnificent!" he gasped.
"Can someone kindly fill me in!" Fury spat.
"He was sick from intense radiation poisoning," Hank Pym chuckled, eyes glittering with happiness "his spider mutation knew that he would die from the experience, so it began the process of shedding his skin. He did die in a sense. He had to go through a hard reboot. Then his spider mutation kicked in, he shed his skin and now-!"
"Now he's hanging in an embryonic state within this portable womb of a web sac!" Tony cackled, bouncing in glee.
Fury gaped. Peter was alive. Well and truly alive. "So, when do we get him back? Do we wait until he…hatches?"
"He needs to heal from his injuries incurred by Morlun," Tony shrugged, "not to mention the radiation poisoning that put him in this state to begin with. We can only wait until he's ready."
"And how long will that be?"
All scientists, spies and doctors looked up at Tony Stark who grinned. "I have no idea!" he sang gaily.
I know this chapter was shorter than my others, but I thought it best to end it there. As you can see, Peter is still with us
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