Disclaimer: I own nothing!
(A/N) This is an Avenger's AU, based on the timelines where the stones had vanished, breaking the timeline.
IIIII
"Why have you gathered us here, Stark?" Thor's voice boomed as he arrived. Steve, Bruce, and Natasha already gathered around the lab, the god of thunder the last to arrive. Sam was busy helping a friend halfway across the world, and Clint had refused the invitation. The man had gone off the grid the year prior, and none of the other Avengers were willing to bring him in forcefully, especially with how he was taking the loss of his family.
"Hello to you as well, Thor," Tony said after a slight pause, then nodded to the god's enlarged stomach. "I see life's been good for you. No intergalactic space overlord in need of destruction? A few of those, and I'm sure you'll be back in shape in no time."
"Enough games, Tony." Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been three years. What could have possibly happened to make you gather us all again."
Looking at all his friends gathered around the room, though he knew by now that most no longer considered him one after all these years with what happened. Tony sighed and gathered his thoughts, pulling up a holographic screen behind him. "Three years ago, when we failed to defeat Thanos, losing half the population. I thought that was it. We failed and had to move on with the broken pieces."
"Tony-"
"But!" Tony raised a finger, cutting off Natasha. "I was wrong. I-I gave up. I tried everything I could think of, true. But the end result... is that I gave up."
Silence enveloped the room, no one else wanting to speak. The past three years were rough on them all, especially with half the world's leaders dead or killed after the snap. Well, it wasn't long before people started looking to them for guidance. Something each and every one of them refused, not wanting the responsibility, as well as not having the strength to right the world after their failure. Something a few people, such as Pepper had said was a harsh evaluation, Thanos, a being no one could have prepared for. But unfortunately, that opinion didn't change their reality or what the world was today.
Taking a deep breath, Tony pulled up a bunch of data and showed it on the screen. "Anyway, after Morgan's third birthday. I got thinking what the world would be like in a decade, two decades, a century after I'm gone. What type of world would she live in, and would another Thanos ever appear."
"No one knows that, Tony." Steve frowned, not getting where Tony was going with his little speech.
"...Strange did," Tony answered, his mind flashing back to the man's death. Still, after all these years, unable to figure out what the magician had tried to convey to him. No algorithm or simulation tested able to help him with the answer. "That time stone? He could see all futures with it, no matter who's it was, which got me thinking. Why couldn't I do the same?"
A little confused but trying to follow where Tony was going. Natasha asked the question she could tell was on everyone's mind. "How?"
A slight smile coming to his face, Tony pressed a button on the screen, showing a series of video clips, ones that just so happened to feature themselves, as well as a few others, all looking a few years older than they were today. "These people on screen, who I should probably mention, are not us, gave me the answer. Somehow, somewhere, they came to this world... using Pym particles. Now how they discovered that the Pym particles could do that, and how they even came up with the idea to either travel back in time, through time, or to an entirely different timeline, is beyond me. However, that doesn't matter. What does, is that while I don't know or understand exactly what happened, I built a machine that will let us see the future."
"W-What? Tony, this is insane." Steve stood up, moving closer before pointing his finger at the screen. The image of himself running and picking up one of the stones flashed across it. "How do you know this isn't some sort of trap? A game of Thanos or some other being. Hell Tony, the me on there is barely even trying to hide. Did I forget about security cameras when we did this in the supposed future? I'd like to think we're all a little better than that."
"You don't know about every camera I have set up, Cap." Tony sighed, the rings around his eyes looking more pronounced as he sat down, looking as if he aged a good decade in a matter of minutes. "Now, I get your concern, but I don't think this is a trap. Even if it was, does it matter at this point?"
"He's right, Steve," Bruce spoke up, looking almost comical on the sofa with his huge green body. "If there's even the slightest chance that we can change the past. Then I think the world deserves for us to at least try."
"Your playing with fire, Stark..." Thor started before glancing at Bruce. "But I agree. Perhaps I'll even be able to bring my brother back."
"Yeah, well see about that when the time comes." Tony smiled, ignoring the part about Loki, relieved to have everyone on board with his idea.
"So, how does this work?" Natasha asked, getting right to the point, the atmosphere becoming a little lighter as they all felt the hope they'd lost grow once again.
"Uh, well." Chuckling, Tony scratched his beard and pulled up another holographic screen, this one the size of a theater, the lights in the room automatically darkening. "I don't really know. I managed to create an almost movie-like image, allowing us to see into different timelines and show up for us to view. But I can't choose what we see or who we see."
"Hold up." Steve raised his brow." Let me get this straight. We could end up watching either possibly one of us or the more likely option. A completely random person, doing nothing concerning our situation?"
"...Yes." Tony nodded after a slight pause, then held up a small silver device. "But I did make this, which in theory, will allow me to lock on to whoever shows up. So, if we get lucky, one of us shows up, I lock on, and we hopefully can get a solution to our problem."
"Which, in theory, also means we could be watching a few billion humans before locking onto one of us, or at the very least, someone we know," Bruce said as he mentally calculated their chances. "Altogether, this is almost a pointless attempt and our best shot."
"That about sums it up."
Nodding, Bruce glanced at the other avengers in the room and, seeing no objections, looked back at Tony. "How do we start?"
"Friday," Tony called his AI as he sat down on an empty seat, the holographic screen becoming a little more solid as more color appeared. A swirl of purple rotated with tiny round objects that looked to be mini planets before turning into a pitch-black screen.
"Why, why did you have to do it? Haven't you done enough to harm our family?"
"That was quick," Tony muttered as he kept his eyes locked on the screen and the old ranting woman. While he built the machine and gathered everyone to use it, he hadn't actually tried to test it yet. Knowing it would work from the fake simulations he had Friday do for the past few weeks. However, the sudden spike and immediate image clarity were a little unexpected.
"I didn't do any-"
"Don't joke around, Mr. Parker. My client has very clearly stated what happened. Ms. Viper's words, the security footage, and well as the body of your aunt near the device you stole has all been recorded and seen by the judge." A man in a neatly pressed suit spoke calmly, shuffling his papers on the wooden desk. A few people in the crowd scattered around the courtroom, nodding at his words.
"What!"
"Stark, isn't that...?"
"Kid!" Tony practically jumped from his seat as he saw an aged-up, but still, Peter Parker on the screen. The boy looked like he was going to be sent off to prison or had come from there if the cuffs and jumpsuit were anything to go off of.
"Tony, press the button," Bruce spoke up, almost on the edge of his seat. "We may never get another chance like this—Peter's someone who's fought Thanos and came into close contact with you. Hopefully, somewhere, we'll get a hint or maybe even directly see how to stop Thanos and bring everyone back... I doubt we'll be as lucky a second time if we don't."
Closing his eyes, Tony took a deep breath. Seeing the kid's face, someone who he had begun to consider a son to him before he died, well, it was affecting him more than he thought it would. "...Well, Bruce. I'm glad you think so... Because I already pressed it."
"I didn't kill my aunt! It was her! She gave me the device saying it was a school project!" Peter yelled, glaring at the black-haired woman sitting beside the lawyer, the smug smile that flashed across her face was infuriating. Especially as no one else seemed to notice it, as well as how everyone believed he killed his Aunt May.
Eyes narrowing, Natasha stared at the woman, taking note of how she was instigating the Parker boy, as well as the far too calm lawyer and the silent judge. "Something's off."
"Of course, something's off! Where am I?" Tony glared at the screen. Peter was getting butchered in the court, and him losing control of his emotions the way he was couldn't be helping sway anyone to his side.
"That is impossible, Mr. Parker. Ms. Viper was on the other side of the world when you decided to steal multi-million dollar technology. The only reason she is here now is because of how serious this is and her lack of security that allowed someone like... well, you to get into her building. If it weren't for that, then you would be back in your cell." The lawyer sighed, and in an almost mocking way, shook his head before smiling at Peter. "The only reason this is happening is because she has compassion for you. She's giving you more of a chance than you deserve. Now explain how you got into the building and stole her technology in return for a reduced sentence."
"No, This is ridiculous." Natasha shook her head at the absurdity of the trial happening. She'd heard stories of some one-sided trials with people being bought off or someone innocent being tried. But what they were seeing now, someone they knew, even if just in passing, easily being played around with in a trial that probably shouldn't even be occurring in the first place? Well, it left a bad taste in her mouth.
"I told you." Peter breathed out before slamming his hands down on the table, making his cuffs rattle. "I DIDN'T STEAL ANYTHING!"
"Wrong move, kid." Bruce sighed, knowing that nothing after that outburst was going to be able to stop Peter from going to prison now.
Tapping the mini hammer against the desk, the judge spoke up for the first time since the beginning of the trial. "Enough, Mr. Parker. Now, if you are done acting like a child. Would you please explain to Ms. Viper how you broke into her building? If not, then it's a cell in the Rykers prison for you."
Staring at the judge, Peter stayed silent, then fell back into his chair. Resignation welling up in him. His aunt was dead, something he was still having trouble getting over, even if it had happened only a few weeks ago. His girlfriend, Liz, who he'd thought would stick with him and believe in his innocence, claimed they broke up long ago, and she had no knowledge of his 'crime.' And now, he was about to be sent to prison, for some technology he'd only glimpsed of when he found his Aunt May, dead on the floor of their living room.
The only good thing, if it could even be considered that. Was that Peter's best friend, Ned, had stuck with him and believed him without a second of doubt. If he hadn't, well, Peter wasn't sure what he would have done...
"...Tony, what did you create?" Bruce breathed, shocked as he saw the bubble appear over Peter's head, giving them more information than they had before or could have gotten from just watching.
"I-I didn't..." Eyes wide, Tony stared at the screen. Never, even in all the simulations and countless theories and ideas that had run through his mind, had he thought this could happen. The potential his machine could have now that he knew it could do this was almost frightening. Tony could already picture Peter fighting Thanos with them being able to read information Thanos hadn't told anyone. If they were lucky, they might even directly find out how to counter the stones, bringing everyone back... That is if they could see the information bubbles for people other than Peter.
"Well, as it appears Mr. Parker wants to spend more time in his thoughts alone, then here now with us. I declare this trial officially over. I'm sure Rykers will welcome their new guest with open arms."
"That doesn't even make sense!" Steve glared, annoyed at how easily the boy was being thrown into prison. It was one thing to have a fake trial, which Peter's thoughts confirmed to. But to skip regular prisons and throw the Parker kid right into Rykers. A prison filled with some of the most dangerous people, both normal humans and powered individuals? It was undeniably wrong, and yet somehow, no one there seemed to think so. Just the opposite, everyone in the audience seemed to agree and were happy with the verdict.
"Wait, what?" Staring in shock at the Judge, Peter was about to try and stand once more when two large hands clamped onto his shoulder.
"Alright, kid, back to the truck with you." A guard spoke up, dressed in full kevlar and with an odd and high-tech-looking weapon strapped on his back. "It's been a while since we had fresh blood down at Rykers."
"T-That's it?" Peter stuttered slightly. Ever since the whole trial had happened, he had felt weird. The feeling having got worse and worse as time went on. But now that he was actually going to prison, something a part of him never truly thought he would go. Well, he now felt nothing, well, nothing but fear and the cold sweat sliding down his back.
"He's not going to survive," Natasha whispered softly, though not softly enough for Tony not to hear if the glare he sent her way was any indication. The billionaire was not taking the way Peter was being treated the most calmly, especially knowing where the kid would be sent.
"Hey, Tony, what's going on? That doesn't look right." Bruce asked, pointing to the holographic screen. The image of Peter getting taken by the guards and brought into the truck blurring before the colored swirl they had seen before reappeared. Looking as if it was sucking in everything before it stopped, then began reversing.
"...Friday, what's the status of the nano connectors? Did anything go offline?"
"Negative, sir. All functions are operational."
Five year's later
"Peter... how have you been man," Ned asked, looking sadly at his friend on the other side of the glass. The sickly pale complexion and the rail-thin body you could make out even with Peter dressed in his orange jumpsuit almost made him want to cry. Every week, for five years, he'd been visiting Peter, and in that time. He'd watched his best friend turn from a cheerful boy to a quiet and withdrawn man who, if compared side by side to his old self. Well, most would think they were two separate people.
"My god..." Tony almost reeled back as he took in Peter's appearance. The boy, or well now man, had one of the palest complexions he had ever seen. However, that was only a minor change when compared to the rest. Peter's body, which had looked healthy before, now seemed far past malnutrition, with thin medium-length hair, gaunt cheeks, black circles under his eyes, and bones that could be easily made out despite the jumpsuit worn. But... Worst of all was Peter's eyes. They had been so full of life, curiosity and almost glowed whenever the kid talked about his abilities or something he did during his patrols... Now, they were practically grey, flat in a way. Not yet lifeless, but they were the closest to it Tony had seen on someone as young as Peter.
"I'm surprised he's alive." Pulling off his glasses, Bruce began to wipe them down, frowning. Feeling something off, something that was just at the edge of his mind. Unfortunately, he just couldn't grasp it.
"You know how it is, Ned." Peter rasped, a slight smile coming across his face at his friend's reaction. "Prison's never fun for anyone. However, it's been better now than it has been previously. Most of the other guys and the new doctors leave me to myself."
Tightly gripping the edge of his seat, Ned thought about calling out Peter on the man's blatant lie. He'd always been able to tell. But ultimately, he chose to stay silent on the matter. If allowing his best friend to give him the illusion that he was fine was what Peter wanted to do. Then Ned wasn't about to take that away. "That's great man. Glad things are looking up. Hey, may-"
"Alright, that's enough chatting for today!" A guard ordered, nodding at two of his men. The both of them moved forward and grasped Peter under his arms before lifting him up.
"Hey! What's going on!" Ned stood up, glaring at the prison guard. "We still have fifteen minutes!"
"Not anymore. New warden, new rules." The guard shrugged, looking entirely unapologetic. "If it makes you feel better. You can always visit him again next week."
"...Bye, Ned." Peter gave a resigned wave as he was dragged off. "See you next week."
Seeing his friend get dragged off, Ned waved goodbye, then gave one last glare at the guards before leaving the visiting center and walking off in the direction of the warden's office.
"Why does Rykers appear so different compared to ours? Last I checked, even the more normal prison part of Rykers didn't have that large of a visiting center. Nor did they allow weekly visits for civilians." Steve frowned, looking towards Tony. Knowing out of any of them, he'd be the most likely person to know the reason.
Sighing, Tony glanced at the captain before looking back at the screen as it transitioned away from Ned and back to Peter. "It's not that much different. In fact, from what we've learned so far, it appears their future is a little ahead of ours. General Ross had made plans before the snap to expand and improve Rykers. But the funds never got off the ground to implement them."
"A new cell?" Peter croaked as he was dragged past the usual hallway leading to his 'quarters'. "Or am I scheduled for another appointment?"
Trying his best to hide his nervousness from the guards, Peter searched the new hallway. He'd never seen or traveled through it before in his five years at Rykers, which worried him. The only time he was ever brought someplace new was when the doctors wanted to try out a new 'therapy' on him. A little detail he'd made sure never to mention to Ned. He knew his friend wouldn't take it well.
Not bothering to struggle and having long given up on such a fruitless effort, Peter watched as the guards strapped him into a leather chair inside the middle of a solid square white room. A little confused at being seated in such a comfortable chair, something that now, after five years of hard metal benches and thin cotton mattresses, felt almost foreign to him.
Hearing the clicking sound of heels, Peter looked up and felt his stomach drop as he saw Ms. Viper, dressed in a slim business suit. The woman who was responsible for his prison sentence and someone he'd never thought he'd see again. In fact, he'd almost forgotten about the woman in the past five years. Now though, the unpleasant memories and the feeling of being played with were returning in full force.
"Hello, Peter." Ms. Viper greeted, a rather pleasant and kind smile on her face.
"Who's describing her smile as pleasant?" Tony sneered, glaring at the woman who'd put Peter in prison. He'd seen her type before, and that smile certainly wasn't 'pleasant'. If anything, it looked more like someone who was looking at a project and feeling particularly smug about it. In fact...
Bruce raised a brow, looking at his friend. "Actually, Tony, it kind of reminds me of you. Like when you solve a problem or complete a project that's stumped you or other people for years."
"Quiet down, Bruce. I don't want to miss anything." Tony ground out, having thought exactly what Bruce had said the moment he said it and not liking the comparison.
Narrowing her eyes, Natasha stayed out of the conversation, watching Viper's every move. Taking note of the way she seemingly by habit, gazed around the room, taking in the guards, weapons, and possible escape routes. All while she was calmly walking and locking onto Peter's form within a second. Something that would take years of training to be as polished at it as Ms. Viper was and not a skill an ordinary businesswoman should have.
Keeping his mouth shut, Peter glared at the smiling woman, the chair now feeling more uncomfortable than the metal benches in the cafeteria. However, he tried his best not to show that. If there was anything at all, he'd learned here at Rykers and taken to heart. It was never to show weakness, whether it be from pain or just simple discomfort.
"Hmm... I see you're not very chatty today. Is it because of me? From the past recordings I've seen, you used to love to talk. Begging, pleading... screaming... Did I miss anything?" Ms. Viper tapped her lip while asking her question in a clearly mocking way. "Oh yes, apologizing. Though given that your aunt is dead, I doubt she's forgiven you for getting her killed. Why-"
"Shut up! Don't you dare talk about my aunt, you murderer!" Peter snapped. Ignoring the weird feeling inside of him that had begun to grow, and instead tried to fight against the straps keeping him to the chair. He wanted nothing more than to punch the smug look off of the black-haired woman's face.
"Excellent, there's that fire. I was wondering if my doctors hadn't stomped it out of you yet."
Feeling as if icy cold water had been thrown on him, Peter looked up at the businesswoman, a sick feeling entering his stomach. Overpowering the weird one he'd been ignoring. "...Your doctors?"
"Yes, Peter, my doctors. And I must say, I'm impressed." Ms. Viper smirked, sitting down on a chair one of the guards brought. "The amount of drugs we've been able to test on your body has helped kickstart some of our more impressive projects. Yet, unlike your fellow test subjects, you're still alive, standing, and capable of thought. The others became vegetables after the tenth dosage."
"Oh, kid." Tony shakily breathed out, running a hand through his hair.
Placing a hand on Tony's shoulder, Bruce said nothing, knowing nothing he could say would comfort the man. Bruce knew first-hand what being a test subject was like, and no matter how it was done, it was never pretty. He only survived because of the Hulk inside him... He couldn't even begin to imagine how Peter had survived for all these years.
"But that's beside's the point. The reason I'm here is because I have one last test for you. If you pass, then you're free. No more tests, no more experiments, no more pain."
"...What's the catch," Peter asked after a few seconds of silence, knowing by now that nothing came free, especially in Rykers.
"There is no catch." Ms. Viper shrugged, standing up from her chair. "I really don't expect you to survive this last experiment. But if you do, you more than deserve your freedom. Think of it as a gift for being a good little lab rat."
Watching as Ms. Viper walked away, Peter felt the first stirrings of hope begin to grow in him. He desperately tried to suppress the feeling, knowing trusting the words of the woman who got him thrown in Rykers was more than a bad idea. But despite that, he still couldn't stop that feeling of hope.
"Experiment 701, begin." A mechanical voice echoed as the guards quickly left the white boxed room.
Putting his chin down close to his chest, Peter closed his eyes and tried his best to lose all touch with reality. Something he'd quickly learned to do after the first few tests and experiments. Unfortunately, it usually didn't work because the doctors threw in something to distract and annoy him like they were doing now.
BAng bANg bang bang bang BaNG BaNG BANG BANG! BanG BANG Bang baNG BAng bang bang BANG BaNG BANG!
"Is that circus music?" Steve questioned, wincing at the volume level. The bangs sounding more like gunshots than any real instrument.
"Yes," Natasha replied, having first-hand experience with the type of experiment Peter was going through. "Is there something about the circus Peter doesn't like Tony?"
"Clowns," Tony answered, not wanting to watch Peter go through the so-called test but unable not to.
"Think of a happy place. Think of a happy place. Think of a happy place!" Peter mumbled quickly, trying and failing to drown out the constant-sounding clown theme. One he'd memorized by heart with how much he'd heard it—making it all the harder to drown it out.
"Mr. Parker." A mechanically synthesized voice echoed. Pulling Peter from his attempts to drown out the music. If there was ever someone he hated more than Ms. Viper. It was the voice, someone he'd never seen but hated more than the woman who'd put him here.
"As this will be our last time together. I've decided to make it a memorable one." Pausing a little dramatically for a few seconds, the voice continued. "I've released a new toxin of mine into the room. By now, it should be entering your bloodstream, allowing us to observe the effects. But I'm sure you're used to that by now."
Looking up into the bright lights above him, Peter stared, then asked the question he knew the voice wanted. "...What's your point?"
"I'm so happy you asked Mr. Parker. What makes this experiment special... Is a video. Well, technically speaking, that is. Right now, you are strapped into an electric chair, which before you ask, no, I don't know the voltage. I just was told it was set to high." The voice chuckled then went on with its explanation. "During the video, I'll pause and ask a question. You answer said question. If you're right, well, good for you. Our drugs haven't totally scrambled your brains yet. However, if you're wrong, I pull up my little lever... Like... So."
With those words, Peter barely had time to register what was said before he jolted, feeling electricity coursing through his body, the pain worse than anything he'd ever gone through before as he felt himself be cooked from the inside out.
"I'm going to be sick." Tony leaned over the edge of the sofa, barely holding back the bile building up in his stomach as he saw Peter get tortured on screen.
"I, for one, am glad my brother came with me to Asgard all those years ago," Thor spoke up, half-joking, half-serious as he tried to lighten the mood hanging in the air.
"...I'm sure he would have found a way out of it," Natasha replied, unknowingly losing the tension in her body as they saw Peter stop getting electrocuted.
"Impressive Mr. Parker. That was setting one. Let's just hope you can survive the other six."
Fingers twitching as he felt the aftershocks run through his body, Peter chose not to reply and instead took a deep breath, not wanting to risk setting the voice off and get electrocuted anymore than he had to.
"Well, if you're ready to start, please focus your attention on the tv in front of you."
Following the voice's words, Peter looked ahead and watched as a large theater-sized screen was lowered across half the room wall. The image on the screen showed what looked to be security footage of himself coming from a camera in the corner of the room.
"That is you, Mr. Parker, as you've no doubt realized. So, without extending this session any longer than it needs to be. I'm going to ask you a question. Please answer truthfully."
"Do you th-"
"Shush, Steve," Tony spoke suddenly, cutting the captain off. "I don't want to hear any more interruptions or questions... Please. I want to see what happens to Peter."
"Are you insane? "
"What?" The words slipped out of Peter's mouth without thought. Here he was, getting experimented on, electrocuted in a chair for some sick test of the doctors. Yet the voice had the nerve to ask if he was insane? In what world did that even begin to make sense?
"Oh yes, Mr. Parker! Ms. Viper didn't mention that little detail?" Once again, the mechanical chuckling came from the speakers echoing in the little room. "You may be physically healthy, albeit malnourished and in almost dire need of more nutrition. However, your mind? Well, you're one of our more interesting subjects regarding how the drugs have affected that aspect... Here, let me give you an example."
Feeling that weird feeling begin to rise inside him again, Peter did his best to ignore it. Focusing on the tv as the screen changed, showing him at the visiting center, sitting alone in a chair staring off into space. Not exactly something he remembered doing, but he was probably bored as he waited for Ned to arrive. That wasn't something that screamed insanity.
"As you can see, Mr. Parker. You're sitting alone. Waiting for your friend Ned to visit. Am I correct?"
"...Yes. What's your point?" Peter asked after a long second of silence, his scalp beginning to tingle, feeling as if a red warning sign was going off in his mind over and over again.
"This is you two hours later. Long past visiting hours. But as we felt you needed a semblance of comfort to keep you going. We left you there, something that's become the norm since the accident." Sounding sad in a more mocking than actual empathizing way. The voice flipped the screen to show Peter talking to himself. Still staring off into space, but this time, with the sound on. Allowing Peter to hear what was being said.
"Peter, how have you been, man?"
"I've been good, Ned, real good."
"Are the tests any better?"
"Tests? What tests? Haha, Ned, you're such a joker! This is a prison. What tests could happen here?"
"You're right, Peter..."
"HeehehehehahhahaHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!"
Face pale; Peter watched as he had a small conversation with himself, using a slightly deeper, but still very obviously his voice for Ned, who wasn't there, which was clearly wrong. He had seen Ned not even an hour ago. What was being said on the camera wasn't right. The conversation wasn't even the same, let alone the laugh. The pitch was weird, and it didn't even sound like his laugh... At least from what he could remember. It'd been years since he'd last laughed.
"That can't be right." Tony stood, pacing as they saw Peter get shown the apparent 'truth' of his insanity. "We saw Ned. We read his thoughts!"
At the time, he'd been too shocked at Peter's new appearance to really consider anything else. But Tony very clearly remembered seeing the thought bubble over Ned and reading what he was thinking about Peter. In fact, the entire conversation, small as it was, seemed to be from the other man's perspective.
Giving a small sigh, Natasha threw in her own two cents. "Tony, we don't exactly know or understand what you created. And while I hate to say it. Peter very well could have imagined the entire visit. Maybe, instead of seeing him, we somehow saw through his eyes the way he perceives the world."
Even before Natasha finished speaking, Tony was already shaking his head, denying her words. "No, that's impossible. I don't believe it."
"Tony..." Steve grimaced but didn't continue. He knew how much Tony cared for Peter, all but practically adopting the boy. So to hear and watch his possible insanity? Well, Steve couldn't even begin to imagine what that felt like.
"Now that you've seen proof. Let me ask you again, Mr. Parker. Are you insane?"
"No," Peter replied instantly. He refused to believe the video was true. The doctors, as he'd just learned, worked for Ms. Viper. Nothing they said could really be trusted. He saw Ned, talked to him, and he knew what was shown on screen wasn't real. After all, if the memory was as clear as his was, surely it was real, right?"
"Excellent Mr. Parker. I'm so very excited to see how you feel about setting number two!"
Eyes widening, Peter didn't even have time to scream before he was once again filled with electricity. Spasming in the chair, unable to free himself from the straps as his vision began to go grey. The coloring looked as if it was pulled away from the center of his vision, every tingle feeling like a nail digging into his eyes.
"Very good! I must say, I was having second thoughts. But now, I think you may truly survive this. Though how much is your body's natural healing and immune system, and how much is my new drug is hard to say at this point."
Glaring up at the bright lights above him, Peter rested his head back. The warm sweat on his face slid off, hitting the ground with a loud splat. Sounding all the louder in the dead silent room, his breathing the only other audible sound. "W...What happened to the music?"
Of course, Peter wasn't about to start complaining about the silence. He just found it odd not to hear the loud and over-the-top banging clown theme, which at this point had been in the majority of the experiments he was a part of. Thinking back, Peter probably should have noticed it had vanished when he heard the sound from the tv. There was no way he would have been able to listen to that otherwise.
"...Why, Mr. Parker. It never stopped."
"Quit playing around. I know your lying." Peter whispered, his voice a little shakily as his head swung around the room. Looking at all the speakers in the walls, trying to listen as best he could for that awful yet familiar banging of drums.
"Why would I do that, Mr. Parker?" Sounding a little amused, the mechanical-sounding voice changed the subject. "Onto the next video. Let's take a look at the outside world for a few moments."
Seeing the screen change to show a car, looking to be leaving the prison, Peter focused his attention on it, knowing it was better to play the game than to continue arguing with the voice. What he did not expect, however, was to see Ned. His best friend, driving the car, the man looking much younger compared to earlier that morning. He even looked a little slimmer.
"As you can no doubt tell. Your friend Ned is quite young here. So my question to you, Mr. Parker. Is how did your best friend visit you if he died a few years ago?"
"What!" Head snapping up to the ceiling lights above him, Peter didn't even have time to demand the voice explain what he meant before a loud crash sounded through the speakers. A quick look back at the tv showing Ned's car totaled. Both sides of it smashed and squished together by the trucks that had hit it on either side. Practically ensuring whoever was inside wouldn't survive.
"Of course, that question isn't part of the game. It's more my curiosity, so you can choose not to answer. No, my real question is, who do you think killed Ned? That accident was... Well, more than an accident. Your two choices are someone with no connection to Ned or you at all, or me and my colleagues."
Feeling sick, Peter looked away from the screen as he heard the options, having no doubt in his mind which was the correct answer, and not for the first time, wishing he could go and kill those doctors. They shamed the name, and he knew from experience they didn't save people, far from it.
"I'm waiting for an answer, Mr. Parker."
"...You did." Taking a deep and shuddering breath, Peter tried his best to calm his emotions, doing his best to think of his happy place and not of Ned's death. Something that was made a little more difficult as his usual happy memory was with Ned and his aunt. Talking about some legos they built while eating at the sandwich shop at the edge of their street. A memory that was now far less happy with both the people in it dead.
"Hmm... Yes. That is correct. I suppose it was a little too obvious." Seeming to sigh, the voice paused, then spoke again, this time sounding annoyed. "Alright, next question. How much do you think Liz was paid to testify against you at your trial?"
Now feeling bewildered and not getting where this new line of questioning was going, Peter answered the question. "She wasn't. Liz didn't even show up."
"Whoops, looks like I forgot a little detail. Well, no harm in letting you know now. Liz was the main reason why you were sent to prison. Her testimony against you was the ironclad evidence that was needed to send you here... That and her mother paid a great deal of money to ensure you had a... Comfortable experience."
"Of course she did. Why not." Peter muttered, feeling the anger boil up inside him for a split second before vanishing. Maybe if he was still a kid, the teen he was when he first entered the prison, he might have blamed his ex and her mother. Gotten angry and done or said something stupid. But now, after five years, Peter didn't really care.
Sighing, the mechanical voice sounded as if the person on the other end was shaking their head. "Peter, Peter, Peter. That was such a disappointing reaction. Where's the rage? The heartbreak? Why I don't even see a tear."
Leaning his head back against his chair, Peter chose to stay silent. He'd long since learned that the doctors knew everything about his life. So they knew full he had only been dating Liz for two weeks before his aunt's murder and the trial.
"Hmm... I suppose I can let you off the hook for this one. Next question, and please, Mr. Parker, answer this one carefully. I'd hate to hurt you simply because you didn't think enough."
"I'm going to kill whoever is speaking. I don't care who it is. I'm going to kill them!" Tony growled, shooting up from his seat and throwing his arm sideways, knocking off some glasses and equipment from a nearby ledge.
"Tony..." Bruce started, then stopped. Once again unable to come up with anything to say to comfort the other man. A look at everyone else in the room showed they seemed to be in the same predicament.
Clenching and unclenching his fist, Tony took a few deep breaths, calming his emotions. Then he grabbed a bottle of special tequila from a low cabinet by the sofa. Filling up a large wine glass before pulling out a few smaller ones. "Anyone want a drink?"
"I'll take one." Natasha nodded, taking the larger glass from Tony and downing it, the events unfolding on screen causing her to remember a little too much of her past. More importantly, her time in the red room and her old instructers. Something she usually tried her best not to think about.
"Now, Mr. Parker, I want to ask you this very particular and possibly confusing question. Are you a good person?"
A little taken aback, Peter stared at the lights above him in a slight daze. Unsure of the point the mechanical voice was trying to reach. "Yes?"
"No, no, NO. You're not getting it! Are you a good person Mr. Parker? After all, what type of person doesn't even cry after discovering their aunt, the closest thing they have to a mother has been murdered? What type of person tries to use their aunt's death to escape prison? What type of sick twisted person, instead of grieving for their best friend's death. Plays a game? What type of person... Are you, Mr. Parker?"
"Oh, kid," Natasha whispered to herself as she closed her eyes. She'd seen trained agents break from more simple torture and questioning. But this, what they were watching now. While it wasn't the worst she'd ever witnessed, she had a feeling by the end. It was going to be up there.
"I-I uh, I..." Peter blinked, trying to follow what the mechanical voice was saying, but felt himself beginning to feel overwhelmed—desperately wanting to deny the accusations but unable to find the strength to speak. The words that he hadn't chosen to play the game on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn't say them. The guilt he'd tried to ignore all these years from getting his aunt killed returning in full force. With the reality of Ned's death slowly crawling in as well. Something he'd tried to suppress since he heard the truth, not wanting to give the doctors any satisfaction of getting a reaction out of him.
"Your emotions are written all over your face, kid," Tony said to the tv as he clenched his fist, his knuckles white as he tried to keep himself calm, wishing more than anything that he could be there for Peter and get him out of that prison.
"Oh, is that indecision I hear in your voice? Fascinating Mr. Parker. However, I regret to inform you that your answer is not accepted. So by default, let's go with that your a good person." The mechanical voice paused, then continued sounding excited. "See, I helped you choose the... Oh... I apologize, Mr. Parker. Those aren't your papers. Well, it looks like I chose the wrong answer. Unlucky, but at least we can test setting number three!"
Seeing white, Peter felt as if his skin was being ripped from his body, every second turning into another, time slowing down to a crawl as he shook in the chair. The leather covering felt like burning coals from the sun itself as it rubbed over and over on his body.
"Awake yet Mr. Parker?"
Blinking in confusion, Peter opened his eyes to see the white lights shining down from the ceiling on his face. The phantom pain from the electricity caused his fingers to twitch as he tried and failed to control his body. His fingers, arms, and even his head refused to move, feeling as if they were locked in place.
"Well then, now that your little nap is over, please focus your attention on the tv in front of you."
Flicking his eyes to the tv, Peter stared as he saw the same frozen image of himself, alone in the visiting center, the same date in the top corner of the screen, identical to before.
"That is you, Mr. Parker, as you've no doubt realized. So, without extending this session any longer than it needs to be. I'm going to ask you a question. Please answer truthfully... Are you insane?"
"...What?" Peter rasped out, a sharp pain shooting through his jaw as he spoke. Ignoring it, he looked at the voice's speaker, unsure of what game was being played by the doctors asking the same question once more.
"You heard correctly, Mr. Parker. Though I will admit, we have come to a conclusion on that ourselves. But, we wish to hear what you think."
"This makes no sense." Bruce grabbed his glasses, then began cleaning them, his mind spinning as he tried to figure out what was going on. "Does Peter have some type of foresight? Like some of Professor X's mutants?"
"Of course not." Tony shook his head, the long and extensive tests he'd done on Peter having shown no x-gene or anything like in it his body.
Feeling annoyed but not wanting to get electrocuted, Peter went with the answer that was 'correct' before. "Yes, I'm insane."
"Hmm... That's quite fascinating. An insane patient who has enough self-awareness to know that they are insane... But, of course. That would be if you actually believed it yourself. Which according to your heart rate monitor, you don't. So Mr. Parker. Let's test setting number two!"
Eyes widening in disbelief, Peter didn't even have time to question why the doctor went down to a lower setting before he was once again getting electrocuted, the pain somehow feeling worse than it did on setting three.
Forty-eight hours later
Wincing at the time change message, Natasha glanced at Tony. Knowing from experience that if Peter had been tortured for forty-eight hours, then what they were about to see wasn't going to be pretty.
"So, what are the results?" Ms. Viper questioned the row of doctors standing before her.
Nervously looking at Ms. Viper, one of the older doctors took a step forward. "Better than previously anticipated, madam. Subject X handled the drugs extremely well with no noticeable damage to his mental facilities."
"Oh?" Eyebrow raised, Ms. Viper glanced at the unconscious and deathly pale Peter Parker from the other side of the tinted window panel. The boy had surprised her many times over the years, giving her organization excellent new experimental data, which had helped solidify her position among the elders. But even she hadn't expected him to survive their latest drug.
"Is he truly unconscious? The boy looks dead." Thor frowned before getting a punch in the arm from Bruce, the scientist motioning at him to be quiet.
"Not only that, but we also tested a... Well, a side project of ours."
Turning her attention back to the old doctor, Ms. Viper frowned. "What side project?"
"Um... W-W ell..." Wiping away some sweat that had built up on his forehead, the old doctor looked at his coworkers, hoping someone else would speak up. Unfortunately, the others all stayed silent, all looking away from the old mans pleading gaze.
"I'm waiting." Ms. Viper said with a tap of her foot, her voice falling an octave as she gave a glance at her guard, the soldier drawing back his gun and pointing it at the doctor.
"Um, after putting subject X back into another coma. We tested a new drug. Wanting to see if we could get a different reaction to the 'are you a good person' question." Seeing the soldier's finger move a little closer to the trigger, the old doctor spoke a quicker. "Interesting enough, we did, the drug somehow mutating. Most likely conflicting with one of the other drugs in his system. When we asked the question again, subject X no longer showed any signs of guilt. He appeared to be impassive, uncaring even. An almost complete opposite reaction compared to his usual one during the past two days."
"Is that so... I assume you can recreate it then for further testing?"
"Unfortunately, given the number of drugs in subject X's system, it's almost impossible to tell how or why without dissecting him. Even then, there's almost no chance to truly pinpoint the source."
"Good, you have two days."
"Why that... That witch!" Tony glared at the screen, all the curses and swear words he knew falling short when it came to the backstabbing businesswoman. That and Pepper had been trying to get him to curb his language around their daughter, so it was slowly becoming a habit at this point to try and avoid swearing.
"Just a moment, madam!" A younger doctor with black hair and dark glasses pushed through the crowd. "While I have no problem dissecting Mr. Parker. Far from it, in fact. May I have permission to experiment on him today before the dissection?"
Eyes narrowing, Ms. Viper stared rather coldly at the doctor. Not liking the interruption, but willing to hear the explanation. "What type of experiment?"
"Well, through my chats with Mr. Parker and our many, many experiments. I've come to admire his will and sheer stubbornness, something no one his age should possess. It's fascinating." Smiling, the doctor took another step forward, glancing at Peter through the glass. "With your permission, and as we are going to dissect him anyways. I'd like to see how far I can push him... Before he snaps."
"And how will you manage that in a day when he hasn't broken in five years?" Ms. Viper questioned, finding herself a little curious to see if the man could manage it.
"Well, in my opinion. I think Mr. Parker is halfway there already. But if you must know... I plan to use his fears against him. Turning him into the very thing that terrifies him."
Feeling a little amused, Ms. Viper turned away from the doctor and looked at Peter for a few moments. "Very well. You have my permission... But please, try and be unique. None of that red and blue nonsense. I see enough of that already."
"...So anyone else feels like she was referring to us?" Steve asked in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere, getting a raised eyebrow from Natasha and an annoyed look from Tony.
One day later
Groaning softly, Peter squinted as he slowly opened his eyes, feeling as if he'd been hit in the head with a hammer. A feeling he knew very well about as that had actually happened before, some type of sick joke by the doctors a few years back. Slowly sitting up, Peter hissed through his teeth, feeling as if every joint and bone in his body was on fire. Something he'd thought he was getting used to after the constant electrocutions. But now, it seemed that wasn't the case.
"Well, at least he's alive," Natasha noted. The experiment the doctor was talking about seemed not to have taken place yet.
"Does no one else find the fact we're now seeing through his eyes weird?" Bruce asked, feeling a little nauseous. Not used to the different points of view.
Noticing something shimmering from the corner of his eyes, Peter looked over and saw a rather large standup mirror in the center of the room. An odd addition to a prison cell and one that he knew shouldn't be in his cell... Unless, of course, it was another one of the doctor's games.
A little annoyed, Peter stood up and walked towards the mirror, planning on punching it. Something that would hopefully destroy whatever game was being played. However, as soon as he reached it, Peter looked into the mirror's reflection and froze. His eyes locked onto the dark green hair on his head, as well as the pasty white skin plastered on his face.
"...Peter," Tony whispered, taken aback at the boy's new appearance.
"My god..." Voice trailing off, Bruce tried to say something more, stopped, then tried again, but couldn't find any words. The sight of Peter's new looks more than a little on the creepy side.
"I see you've discovered you're new changes, Mr. Parker."
"What have YOU DONE TO ME!" Peter roared as he heard the mechanical voice echoing from above him.
"Nothing much, just a little makeover."
"...Makeover? A makeover? You turned me INTO A FREAK!" Without thinking, Peter smashed his fist into the mirror, shattering it.
"Hmm... It depends on your perspective, really."
Falling to the floor on his hands and knees, Peter felt as if his mind was beginning to break. All these years, throughout all the experiments, tests, torture, and everyday prison life. He'd stayed strong. It had been tough, with most days worse than others. But he'd done it, taking each day as they came... Now though, the doctors had finally taken the last thing he'd genuinely owned, his appearance. The only thing they hadn't ruined or taken away... until now.
Wiping away a tear from his cheek, Peter felt a bit of warmth. Pulling his hand back, he noticed for the first time the shards of glass stuck in his hand from when he'd punched the mirror. Looking at the blood as it dripped down onto the floor, he saw a bright red handprint, as well as a few of the larger pieces of the mirror, the broken shards just close enough for him to see his atrocious reflection once more.
"...Why?" Peter whispered, lifting his head to the speakers above. "Why do this to me? Why turn me into a clown? A freak?"
Chuckling, the voice stayed silent for a minute, then spoke. "I suppose soon it won't make a difference, so I'll tell you why Mr. Parker. For all these years, the experiments, the drugs, tests, and everything else. I've noticed how you were different... Special. All the other subjects died, either by the effects of the drugs or choosing to end their own lives. But you, you were different. You held on, always believing you could get your freedom someday."
"Now, as you've probably realized. That's false. You will never and were never going to be free. Despite what Ms. Viper had told you before. However, before we dissect you, and yes, that is happening later today. I decided to try and see what would happen if I did this to you. It's for a little side project of mine for my research on fear and how the brain comprehends it, you see."
Listening to the doctor talk, Peter felt as if his mind was clearing up, a fog lifting up that he didn't even know was there. "So... All this time. The drugs and experiments were tests for you to see if I would go insane? My Aunt? Ned? All those questions?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far. It was more of a possibility that I wouldn't have minded seeing happen. But to be honest, I have no idea why Ms. Viper went through all that trouble. She could have easily just have kidnapped you instead. It would have accomplished the same thing in the end."
With those words, Peter felt the last bit of his rationality snap. "Oh... I see. It was a plan."
"I'm sorry?"
"No, don't apologize. I understand." Peter replied, letting his arms fall to his side before staring at his clownish appearance through the broken mirror shards. "The deaths, experiments, drugs... And even you. It was all one big plan!"
"Hmm... Maybe we did give you one too many drugs after all..." Pausing again, the mechanical voice chuckled. "I fear I may have to take back my previous words Mr. Parker. Maybe you truly are insane."
"Oh? Am I? Yes... Perhaps I am..." Feeling a smile grow on his lips, Peter felt that weird feeling build up in his stomach yet again. But this time, instead of ignoring it or fighting it. He did something he'd never thought to do before. He released it, relaxing and letting go for once.
"Hehehehe..."
"...Mr. Paker? What are you doing?"
"...Hehehehehe..." Shoulder's shaking, Peter felt his grin grow wider. "Hehehehehahahahahahaha!"
"Mr. Parker? Peter?"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAH!" Throwing his head back, Peter felts tears stream down his face as he laughed. Over and over and over again. Unable to stop himself and not even bothering to attempt even to try as he continued to laugh, his voice growing in pitch as it echoed through his prison cell.
"Well then, I suppose this is goodbye. Hopefully, the next subject is as interesting as you were." With a click, the speaker turned off, and a green gas came from the cell vents, filling the room within a few seconds.
Still laughing, Peter watched as the gas fell over him, and instead of trying to escape. He did the opposite, taking deep breaths and sucking in the gas, becoming drowsy within a few seconds, his body quickly growing cold before he fell flat on his side. Gradually beginning to lose consciousness, the same wide smile still stuck on his face.
"He killed himself..." Face blank, Tony downed the rest of the bottle in his hand. A small part of him was horrified, another filled with hatred for those doctors, and another part, smaller than the previous two, relieved. Glad that at least Peter wouldn't be experimented on anymore in that prison.
Shrugging, Natasha twirled her empty glass. "It wasn't as if he had a lot of options. He made the right call."
Closing his eyes, Tony nodded. "Yeah, maybe you're right."
Quietly watching Natasha and Tony speak, Steve, Bruce, and Thor stayed quiet. Both knew Natasha was trying in her own way to help Tony as best she could. What they'd just witnessed, watching as someone Tony considered a son to him be driven insane, something no father should have to see.
"Poor bastard. What do you think happened to him?" A middle-aged maintenance worker asked his friend as they carried Peter's body on a makeshift stretcher through the back of the prison walls.
"I don't know, and I don't care, Rick. Let's just get him to those scientists or whatever they are like we were told." Shaking his head, the man continued walking.
Opening his mouth, Rick thought of mentioning how he'd thought he'd seen the body twitch too, but then stopped himself. Knowing the other man would say it was probably a trick of the light. Which, in all honesty, it probably was. Glancing down at the dead body they were carrying, Rick sighed, then focused his attention ahead, putting the thought out of his mind.
"Haha! He's alive!" Tony yelled, his voice hoarse as he read the maintenance worker's little thought bubble.
"H-How?" Steve's stared, his eyes wide.
Frowning, Bruce thought for a few moments, then nodded his head. "It's possible it has something to do with all those drugs that the doctors said were tested on Peter. Maybe something happened, and he gained some type of resistance? It's possible... However slight that may be."
Raising an eyebrow, Natasha watched, trying to figure out why Peter was playing dead. The only thing she could see for sure was that he wanted to be brought to the doctors. But why, and why Peter didn't try to escape while there were only two people around she couldn't understand.
"Sir, It's been twelve hours. Might I suggest you take a break, recuperate a bit?" Friday's voice echoed from the room, the AI pulling up a holographic clock next to the tv to show the time. "I can pause our viewing of this worlds' timeline if you wish."
Seeing the time and knowing how pissed Pepper probably already was, Tony thought for a split second then stood up. "Good idea, Friday. We'll continue tomorrow... And prepare some rooms for our guests."
"It's already done."
"Oh." Tony paused and looked at the avengers gathered in the room. "Well, you're all welcome to stay. Choose whatever room you like, and whatever else you need... Yeah, I think that's it."
"Thanks, Tony." Natasha nodded, then left, Thor and Bruce getting up to follow behind her. A holographic image of Friday appearing and leading the way to their rooms.
"You as well, Steve," Tony said after a minute, the captain still sitting on the sofa. Looking to be deep in thought. "Unless, of course, you don't want to."
"What? Oh, right. Thanks, Tony." Steve replied, frowning, getting up to leave before stopping at the door. "Do you really believe that we'll be able to change the past? Bring back all those people? Bucky? Wanda? Peter?"
"Yes," Tony told the super-soldier without hesitation. "It's only a matter of time now. We just need to be patient."
"...Alright. Good night Tony,"
IIIII
(A/N) This chapter ended up being a little longer than I expected it to be, but oh well. Anyway, the next chapter might be a part two or maybe a different idea entirely. It depends on what I come up with.