Chapter 5 – Losing Control

Peter feels consciousness creeping up on him again. He's not sure how much time has passed but he's now stood in the living room back at the apartment, still in his suit though the mask is now off, and there's shouting.

'Peter what the hell is going on?' May shouts. 'Ever since the weekend you've been acting weird and now you're shouting at me for being concerned about you sneaking off in the suit. And what the hell have you done to Tony's suit anyway?'

'Just leave me alone!' Peter's voice screams. 'You've been far too interested in your new boyfriend anyway. Why the sudden concern now?'

May looks close to tears. 'Peter I'd never…how could you think I'd stop caring about you because I've met someone?'

'Didn't take you all that long to get over Ben did it?' the voice taunts. 'I shouldn't be surprised that it didn't take as long for you to forget about me.'

'What? Peter that's not fair!' May's properly crying now and no matter how hard he struggles he can't seem to wrestle back control of his body. 'This isn't you either. Has something happened on patrol?'

'What just because I'm speaking my mind for once you think there's something wrong?'

'Peter…I'm calling the team. Something has happened to you,' his aunt's voice is firm and he's never in his life felt such relief.

'No!' the voice shrieks and begins to lunge towards her.

NO! Peter puts everything he can into stopping his body from reaching his aunt, and ends up going sprawling into the table.

What did you do that for? The voice demands.

You tried to hurt May! He snaps back. Wade might be able to recover but she wouldn't and I'm not going to let you hurt her!

'Peter, what the fuck?' May screams, looking at him with actual fear in her eyes. It breaks his heart.

Unable to regain control of his voice, but able to hold on enough to control his body he pulls the mask back on and leaves the apartment. He needs to find some way of getting back in control somewhere he can't hurt anyone.

What are you doing? The voice shrieks, making his head feel like it's about to explode.

Finding somewhere you can't hurt anyone else I care about, he responds, though begins to slip back out of consciousness once he's a couple of blocks away from his apartment. No, he growls, just a little more time.

Your time isss almosst up, Peter, the voice taunts him again, sssoon you will be jussst a memory, and I will be in control.

Not yet you're not.

Sam hesitates in front of the apartment door. He's not met Peter's aunt properly before, but considering the woman can make Tony Stark nervous he's not sure he's ready for this. Anyone who isn't Pepper Potts or Steve Rogers and can make Tony Stark nervous is a force to be reckoned with. Plus he's currently wishing he was in his wings and helping look for the kid.

Heaving a sigh he knocks on the door and tries not to fidget as he waits for it to open. May Parker eventually opens the door, her face tear-streaked although she appears to have stopped actually crying.

'Hi Ms Parker, I'm Sam,' he says, trying to smile, 'I'll take you up to the facility.'

May sniffs and nods. 'Come on in I'll just grab some things,' she says quietly, moving back into the apartment and leaving him to follow. Sam notices the coffee table is broken and tries not to look too shocked in case he upsets her. He can't see any bruises on her, so he's hoping that's not from her.

'Peter,' her voice catches as she says her nephew's name, 'he fell into it when he jumped at me. It was weird,' she continues after a pause, 'almost like he was stopping himself mid-jump or something.'

'We've split the team into two,' he explains, figuring that telling her what the plan is will help to settle her a little. 'Tony, Rhodey, Steve, Wanda and Wade are all out looking for him now. I said I'd come and get you so you could keep up with everything that was happening. Bucky, Vis, Bruce and Nat are still back at the facility, we thought it was a good idea to have someone up there in case he went there for help. If something is wrong he may be heading that way, and we made sure there was an even split of power in case…' he trails off realising she may not want to hear the next bit.

'In case he tries and attacks them right?' she says. 'Don't try and molly-coddle me, Sam. I've all but raised that boy since he was seven years old, I want to know everything that is going on.'

He nods. 'Sorry, I just didn't want to-'

'I know,' she gives him a small smile, 'you're just like Tony. But he's learnt it's better to just tell me as it is. Just wish Peter would learn to do the same.'

'I don't know how the search is going,' he tells her, 'we'll be able to get an update once we reach the facility.'

'Then what are we waiting around here for?' she asks, raising an eyebrow in a very Natasha-like manner that Sam wonders if they should maybe keep those two apart.

'If you've got everything we'll go now,' he says, leading her out of the apartment.

Loki looks over as Wilson enters the room with Peter's aunt.

'Any updates?' Wilson asks, they're in the briefing room keeping up with the search.

'They've found him,' Romanoff's voice is tight, 'they're on the bridge confronting him now. He- he sounds off.'

'He's far too angry to be Peter,' Barnes says, voice and face dark, 'something is wrong with that kid. They need to get him back now.'

'Come on, Pete, it's us,' Rogers' calm voice comes through the speakers, 'you know we're only here to help. We're worried about you, kid.'

'Stay back before I have to hurt you, Captain,' Peter's voice growls back. Loki frowns, there's an edge to it that is sparking some memory in the back of his mind, but he can't quite place it.

'Come on, Pete, you aren't going to hurt us,' Rogers responds, 'you'll rarely go all out in a game of soccer you're too scared of hurting anyone, even me or Buck.'

'Maybe that wasss true before,' there's a hiss to the boy's response, 'but not anymore. Now I've met sssomeone who can help me reach my full potential. Sssomeone who doessn't let me hold back. Now I know what my powersss are really for.'

'What are you talking about?' Wanda's voice this time, the girl sounds terrified. 'Peter what is going on?'

'The hunt,' he hisses, 'that'sss what they are for. Ssso hungry. He won't let me feed! All because you all hold him back.'

'What the hell?' Bruce frowns and looks around the room. 'What's he talking about? It sounds like there's something controlling him.'

Loki hasn't had many occasions to feel real fear, but true ice cold fear is currently pooling in his stomach. 'Oh Allfathers help us,' he mutters.

'What?' Romanoff looks at him. 'You know what's wrong with him?'

'I hope I'm wrong,' he says, looking at her, 'but that…that sounds like a Symbiote.'

'A what?' Bruce asks,

'A parasitic lifeform. They take control of a host and force them to feed-' he cuts himself off, casting a brief glance towards Peter's aunt. From the pale faces in the room he guesses he doesn't have to finish the sentence.

'Can we save him?' she asks, tears running down her face.

Loki's at a loss for words. 'I don't know if there's the instruments needed on this planet.'

'Can you save him?' she asks.

He opens and closes his mouth a few times. 'Possibly,' he answers. 'If it is a Symbiote then there's a chance I can but-'

'No buts Loki,' Romanoff cuts him off, gaze hard, 'can you or can you not help him?'

'I can,' he answers, 'but only if it doesn't have too strong a hold on him. I've seen it once in Asgard, one of our warriors had been infected with one. We caught it too late and we weren't able to save them, but I know how to extract them.'

'How long is too long?' Peter's aunt asks him.

'It depends on how strong the individual is,' he replies, 'but if he was able to stop it from attacking you then there may still be a chance. I'd have to get to him now though.' He turns to the rest of the group. 'Someone needs to get me to him now or we can't save him.'

'Take one of the jets,' Bruce says, 'fly out there.'

'I'll take-'

'I'll take you,' Barnes cuts Romanoff off, a blank expression on his face. 'Nat let the others know we're coming and to keep Peter occupied. You,' he points a metal finger at Loki, 'come with me. You try anything I'll tear you apart.'

'Bucky,' Romanoff's voice is full of warning.

'Peter's more important than anything else, Nat,' he responds to the other assassin, 'but I'm still giving him the warning.'

Loki simply stands and follows the man without a word as they hurry to one of the jets. They move in silence and Barnes fires up the controls, closing the door behind them. 'Sit down,' he grunts. 'I'm going to be flying fast and don't want to have to worry about you knocking yourself out because you lost your balance.'

'Why Seargent Barnes, anyone would think you cared,' Loki smirks, trying to ignore the fact that he is genuinely concerned about the teenager's welfare. He is most certainly not becoming attached to any of these humans.

The look he receives could have frozen a fire demon. 'Peter is the one I care about. Right now you seem to be the only one who can help him. You fuck this up and there won't be a way you can crawl out of the hole I put you in. Understood?'

'Charming as always,' is his retort, 'but surely getting us there is more important than threatening me at this moment in time?'

A/N: So it's got to get worse before it gets better...kind of like the flu? Please don't hate me, I know I'm being really mean to Peter. I hope you enjoyed the chapter despite it not having the rescue everyone's waiting for.

Thank you so much to everyone who has left reviews on this story, and indeed the entire series! I actually went back and had a look at all the numbers and was completely blown away (yet again) by the support you've all been showing me. So much so I'm going to do a mid-week update to say thank you to everyone!

Please do continue to leave reviews and let me know what you think about where the story and series is going, I really do love to hear all of your thoughts and you guys give me so much inspiration for other things I can include. I know I haven't responded to all the reviews yet this week, I shall be doing that this afternoon as I sit on a coach.

Look for the next update around Monday/Tuesday and thank you so much again!

Love L x

As always here's your sneak peek (please don't hate me):

'Override code-' he chokes again on tears but presses on, feeling his control starting to slip. 'Override code Baby Genius 2-0-0-4. Turn off, Karen, and thanks for everything.'

He doesn't get a response as his AI goes silent, the override code doing its job.

What are you doing, Peter? The voice demands.

You're right, he replies, no longer able to respond out loud as his grip on the control begins to fade. I can't fight you forever, you're too strong. But I can't let you hurt my family any more.