Trigger warning: attempted suicide in this chapter

Chapter 6 – The Bridge

Peter's given up trying to keep control of his voice simply so he can maintain some form of control over his body. He'd wanted to cry with relief when he'd heard the sound of repulsors and looked up to see Tony and Rhodes flying towards him in their suits. The voice had managed to get enough control to continue to run, though, and they'd ended up on the bridge, the two of them struggling for control over his body. Unfortunately they'd ended up near the centre of the structure between a lot of the metal framework which was making it difficult for any of the team to get close.

Tony and Rhodes are hovering nearby, a little below where he's holed up, Steve and Wade are perched on different beams a little above him but any attempt to get closer has had them risking injury, and since they're above the water that is not something they're wanting to risk. Wanda is a little further back than they are, not quite as nimble over the structure as the two ex-military men.

I'll take them all down with ussss, Peter, the voice warns, ssso let'sss not let them get too clossse, ssshall we?

You're not hurting any of them, he growls back in response.

'Peter! Come on kid, talk to me,' Tony calls out to him. 'What's going on? I know I didn't miss your birthday, and I'm pretty sure there's no other important dates coming up, so what's brought this on?'

'Stay away from me!' he screams. 'All of you stay back. Don't think that by pretending you care this'll end any differently.'

'What are you talking about?' Rhodes asks. 'The only way this is going to end is with you coming back with us and this all getting sorted out.'

'Sorted out?' his voice laughs. 'I think you mean you'll have me dancing to whatever tune you want to play.'

'Come on, Pete, it's us,' Steve's calm voice says, and he turns to look at him, trying to draw strength from the calm, steady blue eyes, 'you know we're only here to help. We're worried about you, kid.'

'Stay back before I have to hurt you, Captain,' he growls.

You won't, he tells the voice, I won't let you.

Sssoon you won't have a choicccce, it hisses back.

'Come on, Pete, you aren't going to hurt us,' Steve 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,' this time the voice is so strong the hisses have come through in his 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 sounds terrified and it pulls at Peter's heart. 'Peter what is going on?'

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

That's not true! He shouts internally. They've done nothing but push me forwards, I wouldn't be half the person I am today if it wasn't for all of them.

'Whoever the fuck you are that's messing with my baby boy,' Wade's voice is the most dangerous Peter has ever heard it, 'you get the hell out of him right now!'

'Or what?' the voice spits back. 'The only way to get me and Peter separated now is to kill us. And you're not going to do that to him are you Wade Wilson? Think you can hurt him? If anything I've helped him by getting rid of you. Why would he need a murderer hanging around him? Don't you remember when you shot someone trying to save him? He couldn't stand to look at you, to be near you. I've saved him more hurt by pushing you away, you know it's true.'

SHUT UP! Peter screams. Shut up, you leave Wade alone you piece of-

Ah, ah, ah, language Peter, the voice sneers.

'What are you and what are you doing to Peter?' Wanda screams, eyes red with anger. 'Because I know he'd never even think those things, let alone say them.'

'Are you so sure of that?' the voice challenges. 'Are you really so sure what goes on in precious Peter's head?'

'I don't need to use my powers to know that,' Wanda replies. 'I know my bro-'

The voice laughs, a loud and cruel sound that has Peter wanting to claw at his own throat. 'Oh yes you keep calling him your little brother,' it sneers. 'So desperate to reclaim what you lost. Was it because of the name? Or because he's just so easily led? Such a lost little lamb isn't he? So easy to make you do what you want if he thinks it'll make you feel better, if he thinks it's what you want. How long before you try and mould him into what your twin once was? How long before you start expecting another voice to answer and get disappointed when it's Peter and not Pietro? How long before it becomes easier to cast him aside rather than keep a second-rate substitute, hmm?'

'I'd never do that,' she says, and Peter can see tears in her eyes. 'You hear me Peter? I'm not going anywhere.'

Please, stop hurting her.

The voice laughs. 'Oh you should hear him now. All pleading and pathetic. You think it's not what he would think but where do you imagine I'm getting all of this? It's all here in his head. Oh some of it is buried deep. Probably so deep he doesn't even realise it's there. But it is. All of it is. It's just- ah!'

Peter manages to cut off the voice. 'Stop,' he growls, for once with his own voice. It might be weak and pathetic, and it's filled with all the tears he's not been able to release, but it's his. 'Stop hurting my-' he's cut off, the words getting stuck in his throat and he falls to his knees, fingers holding tightly to the metal and it begins to groan underneath his strength.

'Peter!' a chorus of voices, but they're starting to be blocked out again as he struggles to keep hold of consciousness.

'Peter, it's me kid,' the sound of repulsors coming closer and Tony's voice.

'NO!' the voice hisses and black tendrils, that look similar to his webs, but thicker, shoot from his body out towards Tony.

'Tony!' Steve shouts.

'I'm fine,' comes the reply, though Peter can't see what's happening, his vision darkening. 'What the hell is that?'

The voice chuckles. 'As my hold on Peter gets stronger, so more of my abilities come out. Abilities that have moulded with his.'

My webs, Peter realises, you've copied my webs but without the need for the shooters.

Sssuch a clever boy, it teases him.

'Peter I know you're in there, I know you're fighting,' Tony's voice interrupts his internal conversation. 'Stay with me, kid, please. Keep fighting. We're going to save you.'

The voice lets out another cruel laugh. 'Oh you're going to save him are you? You? The great Tony Stark. You who nearly caused his death? Or do you not remember taking away the suit? Do you not remember leaving him to fight in nothing but old clothes? Do you not remember you left him defenceless as an entire building fell on top of him?'

Stop. That wasn't his fault!

'Peter, I know-'

The voice cuts Tony off, taunting the man. 'Do you know what it's like, Tony Stark, to have concrete crushing you? Do you know what it's like to not be able to breathe? To have super strength and not be able to move? He called out for help you know. Begged for help and there was no one to hear him. Because you'd taken away the suit that might have spared him all of that. And you know what else? He could only think of you telling him he didn't deserve the suit that could have spared him. You think you can save him? You've already abandoned him once, how long before you do it-'

'-STOP!' Peter's scream cuts through the voice.

'You listen to me, Peter Parker,' Tony's voice is steady, 'you shout and scream at me as much as you like, but that's never going to stop me doing everything I can to keep you safe.'

Hot tears stream down his face. Peter doesn't risk opening his mouth, he's struggling to keep hold of his control as the voice battles against him, but there's a new burst of strength in him.

You can't fight me forever, Peter, the voice hisses as it battles against him.

He said those words to me after he'd nearly died to keep me safe, he retorts, I'll fight you as long as I need to.

'Come on, Baby Boy,' Wade says, 'just like you said: if we've got each other's backs there's nothing we can't take on.'

You can't fight me forever!

'Karen?' he says quietly, gritting his teeth as he struggles to stay in control.

'I'm glad to hear your voice again, Peter,' his AI says, coming out of standby mode. 'What do you need me to do?'

'I need you to record a message for me,' he says, trying to hold back tears, 'for the team.'

'Alright.'

'Tell them,' he grits his teeth and grasps the metal tighter as the voice hits him with renewed strength. 'Tell them thank you for everything, and that I had the time of my life with them. Tell Nat I'm sorry I couldn't perfect that spinning kick, and remind Bucky he's still not allowed to maim high-schoolers,' he chokes on a small laugh. 'Tell Wanda she was the best big sister I could have asked for, and that I hid her favourite ice cream in the upstairs freezer so there was always some for when she wanted a banana split. Tell May I love her, and I'm sorry for all the stress and worry I caused, and tell her she deserves to be happy with Stuart. Tell Tony-' he chokes again and tries to fight his way past the ball of emotion in his throat. When he continues his voice is more a choked whisper than anything. 'Tell Tony I'm sorry I couldn't fight harder, tell him…tell him he was better than any father figure I could have ever dreamed of, and I hope there was even one moment where I made him proud. Tell him he's the best dad ever. And tell Wade… tell Wade I love him.'

'Peter, what are you doing?' his AI asks.

'Turn off the suit, Karen, and no matter what happens do not turn it back on.'

'Peter I can't do that, I am programmed to come on if there is any threat to your life.'

'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.

What are you doing? It screeches. Black tendrils start to form around his body and Peter grabs hold of them, pinning them against himself.

Doing what I'm supposed to do, he replies, protecting them from you, and from me.

'Peter?' he hears the team members around him calling for him as he stands to his feet. Then, taking a deep breath, he lets one foot hang over the edge.

Peter you will not do this to usss! The voice shrieks at him.

Watch me.

'Peter!' he hears the team shout as he takes a step over the side and drops towards the river below.

The voice is shrieking at him, but it takes all of his energy to fight the black tendrils coming from his body, trying to stop whatever it is from saving them.

Dimly he hears the voices of the team as they watch him fall. He hears repulsors from Tony and Rhodes as they try and get close enough to catch him, but the tendrils are thrashing about wildly and the two suits can't get close enough. He thinks he even feels Wanda's powers desperately trying to hold him, but whatever the voice is appears to be stopping them from having any effect.

Damn you, Peter! The voice shrieks. Then both he and it scream in pain as something comes into contact with the tendrils.

White hot pain shoots through his whole body, and he goes limp, no longer able to fight as it paralyses him. Spots dance across his vision.

Just as he's slipping from consciousness he thinks he hears the whirring of a machine, and two arms catching him, holding him against a firm and slightly cool body. Then a voice near his ear.

'I think I should leave the flying to my brother.'

A/N: As promised here is your mid-week update! Hope you enjoy this chapter. Please don't hate me too much.

Thank you to everyone who left reviews on the last chapter. Do let me know what you think of this one, and as always do let me know if there's anything you'd like to see from future instalments.

Love you all

L x

As always here's your sneak peek:

'Let me say what I need to say? Please?' May asks, opening her arms as an invitation for him to lay back down. Dread building in his stomach he just nods and does so; after a pause she carries on. 'Maybe you don't think that, but I do. I can't keep up with all this superhero stuff, and I can't ask you to give it up. It's too much of who you are now, and you'd never be really happy if you did. Stuart… Stuart is thinking of moving to a different part of the State, and he's asked me if I want to go with him; there's a great job opportunity for me as well and I'd love to go with him. But I'm not going to ask you to leave everything behind to come with me. So we've got a few options we need to talk about.'