Broken

Chapter 5: The End


Up in the helicarrier in the conference room, Nick Fury was going on the aspect of the Intel for their next mission. While Steve, Natasha, Bruce, and Flint were listening, Tony's mind was elsewhere. He stared down at his cell phone, at Pepper's number. Steve would glance over at Tony, seeing this. He glanced at Natasha, who nodded.

When the meeting was over, Tony was the first to leave. He bolted out of the room and out on to the helipad. He needed to get some fresh air.

"I am sorry Anthony...I love you,"

Those words continued playing over and over in Tony's mind. She never called him by his name, ever. Something was wrong. He could feel it in the pit of his stomach. From looking into what happen to Peter's Aunt to Pepper say that could she actually been in over her head?"

"There are you", said a familiar voice.

Turning around, he saw Steve walking towards him. With everything that happen between he wasn't sure if he would even talk to him again, but he still could push out what was bothering him from his mind.

"Hey Steve," Tony said.

Standing beside Tony, Steve looked out at the clouds sailing through the sky. Tony joined him, followed with a sigh.

"From that sigh I could tell you got a lot on your mind," Steve said.

"Yeah," Tony said, pushing the word out of his lips.

"Hm, no snarky come backs," Steve paused. What's wrong Tony?"

Closing his eyes, Tony took a deep breath. He wasn't sure how to word it, but he would give it a try.

"You remember Peter Parker right, Spider man?"

"Yeah, he's a good kid,"

"Well…" Tony pressed a button on his phone, bringing up a holo image of a newspaper showing Peter's aunt on the cover. "His aunt was severely injured in a suppose attempted robbery.

"Suppose?"

Tony swiped the screen, showing the image of police reports. "Nothing was stolen, but the place was trashed.

"Hm, so an attempted murder?"

"Maybe, but then this popped up," Tony said, swiping to image showing a house and picture of an injured teen being taken out by EMTs. "This is one of Peter's friends, Ned. He was attacked while in his room. Nothing was stolen but the house was trashed.

"But?" Steve asked.

Swiping to images from the medical report showing odd lacerations across Ned's chest and stomach. "These lacerations found on him coincide with the ones found on Peter's aunt, but I can't make out what they could be from.

Leaning in closer, Steve looked over them carefully. "Not sword or blade, it's smaller, almost like a…"

"Like a quill," a female voice said from behind them.

Placing a piece of paper in Tony's hand, he glanced back at Natasha, who smiled.

"I was curious why you weren't paying attention in the meeting, so I did a little digging." Natasha said, placing a folder in Tony's hand. "Turns out SHIELD has been keeping an eye on a disturbance in New York regarding Peter. Natasha paused. "And yes, both Pepper and Happy are involved.

Sighing loudly, Tony shook his head. "She called me Anthony… she never calls me that."

Steve placed a hand on Tony's shoulder. "Then you need to go."

"But…" Tony protest.

"We got everything covered here," Natasha added.

"If you need help, we're just a call away," Steve said.

Nodding, Tony shook Steve's hand. Handing the files and images to Natasha, he pressed a button on his cell phone. Within moments, red nanites formed around Tony, morphing him into his Iron man suit. Natasha and Steve stepped back as Tony jumped off the helicarrier and zoomed off toward New York.

"Hang on Pepper, I'm coming."

Meanwhile, driving down the road, Happy pulled over to the side. Which surprised Peter they had dropped of MJ off at a relative's house. She wanted to go with them, but neither him nor Happy thought it would be a good idea.

Happy pulled out Pepper's cell phone from his pocket. Turning it on, he noticed the countless email and photos. Peter leaned over and looked as well.

"So that's what she's been doing," Happy said the moment he saw the sender read Tony and Natasha.

"I was wondering why she kept looking through each chapter so carefully." Peter said.

"Which means…"

Before Happy could say it, there was a knock on the car door window on the driver's side. Looking up, Happy stiffen as Peter swallowed hard. There was Tony looking right back at them with in his Iron man suit with his face cover off.

Happy rolled down the window. "Uh...I'm sorry, we should have told you sooner."

Tony sighed. "Yeah," Looking in the car, he spotted Peter in the front seat, but the back was bare. Closing his eyes for a minute, he remembers looking through the emails of the chapters she sent him. He had just finished reading chapter four when he reached them. She even sent him the title of the last chapter: The End.

Shaking his head, he took a deep breath. That was when Peter cleared his throat and spoke up.

"I'm sorry about Ms. Potts Mr. Stark. I didn't think it would get this crazy so fast."

"It's okay kid, we all make mistakes, me included. I say it's time to fix them and stop this manic for good this time."

Nodding, Peter hopped in the back seat as Tony walked over to the passenger side door. By then, his suit disappeared, and he sat down in the passenger seat, shutting the door behind him. Turning on the car, Happy put his foot on the gas and zoomed off to the hospital.

Whimpers, screams, crying and sobs all encircled around Victor Peterson as he wandered the halls of the hospital. With the doctors and nurses locked away in their offices, he let his beloved minions roam free, panting and drawling all over the walls, knocking over plants, tearing posters busting out windows, and visitors and patients whose screams reach his ears.

He came to a stop at one room that read Jane Doe but it was scratched of and said May Parker. He smiled as he pulled out the report from the door.

"Breathing on your own, no more internal bleeding, and look, you're actually close to regaining consciousness. It should be a delight when he sees you and I finish you off in front of him." Victor said, musing to himself.

Opening the door, Victor walked inside. She looked around the dull room until he laid eyes on the medical bed. The covers were up over her head, as a few monitors were still on beeping away.

"Wakey wakey, my dear, you're needed," Victor said as he pulled back the covers.

A sigh escaped his lips followed by a smile, for there in the bed was nothing but pillows. Looking up, he noticed the spiderwebs residue on the vents.

"Clever, very well we'll do this another way."Victor said aloud.

Walking out of the room, Victor continued smiling as he stared up at the ceiling. Snapping his finger, a man with short hair with cat-like eyes approached him. He bowed to him sightly before looking up at the ceiling. The two remained silent for a while until a noise interrupted them.

"Shall we play with the vents, my lord?" The man asked.

"No, I have a better idea. Is she ready?"

The man smiled. "Yes, ready and waiting to impart her inspiration.

Victor smiled and laughed. "Let the games begin."

At the hospital cafeteria, Peter opened a side vent and emerged slowly with Aunt May in his arms. He kept his head low but looked around. Spotting Happy waving to him from the behind the kitchen. He moved toward him with ease. Peter found it weird there was no one here, but he couldn't think about that now.

The moment reached the kitchen door, Happy opened it. Peter was about to hand Aunt May over to Happy when the hairs all over his body stood on end. Happy looked behind Peter wide eyed, prompting Peter to turn around. They're stood Pepper in a long white toga dress with two slips on either side with long orange red hair running down her back along with white sneakers. She stared at the both of them with a smile across her lips.

"Hello Peter," Pepper said before looking at Happy. "Hello Happy."

"Uh hi," Peter said.

"I have been looking for the both of you."

"Oh?" Peter asked.

"The Author wishes to see you." Pepper said, followed with another big smile across her lips.

Peter handed his aunt over to Happy as he stood in front of him. "We're not going anywhere."

"I see," Pepper said, her smile disappearing from her lips. She moved closer to Peter. "Then let me help you."

Within moments Peter was thrown out of the cafeteria in to the hall. He winced as he got up, only to be greeted with the smiling face of The Author and his goons.

"Hello Peter," The Author said.

"What did you do to Ms. Potts?" Peter asked.

"Oh, do you like it? She is my muse now, spreading such wonderful inspiration that this last chapter will be a doozy."

Peter rose to his feet as Pepper walked out of the cafeteria and stood beside Victor. Wrapping his hand around her waist, he pulled her close as she snuggled closer.

"Thanks to you, my dear boy, with her by my side. I have nothing to fear."

"Well, you can't keep her freak!" A familiar voice yelled.

Turning to the voice, Victor smiled. There was Tony, panting, as he dropped two goons on the floor before walking toward him.

"Pepper would never give in to being you slave." Tony said.

"Oh, I beg to differ. You remember the water I had been working on? I perfected it and she was the first successful transformation."

"No…" Tony uttered

"Oh yeah, I call it my inspiration juice"

Tony grit his teeth while Victor smiled.

"Mr. Stark!"

Victor snapped his fingers as his goons charged toward Tony. Nodding, Tony charged towards them. Punching and kicking away, Peter flipped over Victor and Pepper to aid Tony. Looking at the fighting, Pepper tilted her head from left to right. She couldn't help but notice how familiar they were to her. Seeing this, Victor pulled Pepper away.

Kicking the last goon on the floor, Tony and Peter took off after Victor and Pepper. While Happy with Aunt May in tow headed toward the locked offices, releasing the doctors and staff. They tended to Aunt May while he continued releasing more staff and calling the police.

Running down the hall after Victor and Pepper sheets of paper few toward both Tony and Peter. Tony dodge the pieces and pushed them out of the way while Peter picked them up, even the ones that fell on the floor.

"Kid?" Tony asked

"Evidence." Peter replied.

Tony nodded as the two of them ran faster. Seeing this wasn't stopping them, the last of Victor's goons poured out from the doors and Pepper stopped. Victor turned to her.

"We must keep running, my dear. We are almost out of here."

"No, I shall spread my inspiration. It should slow them down."

Victor smiled. "Then spread away."

While Victor took off running again, Pepper turned around and walked toward Tony and Pepper. Knocking the goons out of the way, Pepper twirled around Peter and Tony. They kept an eye on her but she spin so elegantly Tony dropped his guard for a moment and Pepper smiled as she landed multiple punches before punching Tony hard in the gut. She moved to Peter doing the same thing, blocking peter punches. She spun around Peter fast. She pushed him into Tony and they both fell to the floor.

Peter and Tony slowly got up off the floor.

"She's too fast,"

Tony remained silent as he kept looking at Pepper. The way she spun around with a smile on her face, his ears perked up at the sound of hum escaping her lips. Pulling out his cell, he pressed a red button and before strengthening his back and taking a deep breath.

"We are just looking at this the wrong way."

Tony and Peter moved around Peter until she was in between them. Tilting her head, she looked between them, wondering what their next move would be. When they moved closer, they moved from side to side in the same rhythm as her. Pepper went to punch Peter, only for him to dodge her attack. She turned and became tired with Tony, but he eluded her as well. Tony Looked to Peter, who nodded and the moment Pepper turned to punch Peter again he dodged and pushed her into Tony who took a hold of her hands and smiled.

Confused and intrigued, she looked deep into his eyes.

"Oh, dear Muse, can you spread your inspiration my way?"

"You are the enemy, The Author says, the villain of the story," Pepper said.

Glancing to Peter, he nodded as he took off running. When Pepper tried to stop him, Tony pulled her closer.

"I am not the enemy; I am merely a knight who has failed to protect his most precious treasure."

"Precious treasure?" Pepper asked.

"You."

Pepper stared at Tony. She found herself lost in his chocolate brown eyes. But he was the villain, her master's enemy, yet why did her heart race when she was this close to him?

Wincing, Pepper rubbed the side of her head. Tony looked over where she rubbed her his eyes holding nothing but concern.

"I'm fine, it's just a slight headache," Pepper said, pulling out a water bottle with the letters IJ on the front. "I'll feel fine after drinking this."

"I wish you wouldn't," Tony said. "It would only cloud your mind. Please, just rest and I will explain everything when you have awakened."

Pepper slowly reached up and gently caressed Tony's cheek. Her instances were telling her to trust her, and for once, her heart and mind agreed.

Dropping the water bottle, Pepper laid her head on Tony's shoulder, followed with a sigh. Tony wrapped his hands around her waist before stroking Pepper's back. A light yawn escaped her lips as she closed her eyes.

"I shall wait for your explanation then…sweet dreams, my knight." Pepper said as she drifted off to sleep.

"Sweet dreams, my treasure," Tony whispered as he planted a kiss her on her forehead.

Tony looked up the moment he heard footsteps, the moment he saw Happy. He sighed. The moment Happy reached him, Tony handed Pepper over to him, which he carefully held her, making sure not to wake her.

"The cops are on their way," Happy said.

"Good," Tony said as looked at Pepper sleeping. "It's time to end this."

Happy nodded as Tony took off running toward the back of the hospital.

Outside in the parking lot, Peter was running after Victor. This man hurt his aunt and Ned. He almost injured MJ too. He wasn't going to get away with this.

Gritting his teeth, Peter shot out his webbing from his wrists and leaned back, pulling to cars together in front of Victor missing him only by an inch. Stopping, Victor turned and smiling.

"I sense anger, that's good," Victor said as he pulled out two metal quills from his back pockets. "Let's see how angry you really are."

Peter charged towards Victor, punching. Dodging with ease as Peter screamed out with each punch, Victor's eyes narrowed as he cut Peter with his razor-sharp quills. Peter hissed, but kept going. He would not stop, he couldn't let him win. Victor needed to pay for what he had done. Jumping back, Peter balled up his first as webbing wrapped around it, making a huge boxing glove like shape and punched Victor, sending him flaying. Landing on top of the car on his back, Victor struggled to move, but Peter jumped in the car with his hands around his neck.

Victor chuckled as he stared at Peter, who was steadily squeezing his neck. To see so much anger and hatred swirled within those eyes he has finally turned a hero into a villain.

"That's right, give in to your hatred…. end my life!" Victor yelled.

He didn't did have to ask twice as Peter kept putting pressure on his neck. His heart was racing as the images of aunt and Ned invaded his mind. He wanted to do it. He had to, right?

"Giving him what he wants may feel better, but what about in the long run?" A familiar voice asked.

"He hurt my aunt and Ned. He deserves this!" Peter screamed.

"Steve nodded. "I understand but, I will ask again what about in the long run? Can you deal with taking a life?"

Sighing, Peter looked down as he gripped loosen as he shook his head.

"Let go kid," Tony said, finally reaching them.

Letting go, Victor stood up. "You heroes are all alike, too scared to make the ultimate choice. "Looks to Tony. "I will keep coming after Pepper. She is my muse and next time you won't be able to save her."

Tony bit his lip as he turned his head to the side. Those words stung him deep, but he simply pulled Peter behind him.

Steve punched Victor in the face. He leaned back and forth for a while before dropping to the ground.

Peter watched him fall. He glared at the man while his rage had dulled. It was still there.

"Go back inside the hospital. I will join you soon," Tony instructed.

At first Peter didn't move, but after a nudge from Tony, Peter turned around and headed back inside.

Tony walked over and looked down at Victor. This man had hurt Pepper and made Peter's life a living nightmare. He wanted more than anything to end his life. It would be easy for him, but even he isn't ready for consequences from it. Tony sighed, but Steve put a hand on his shoulder. But he still stared at Victor.

"It's taking everything in my being not to hurt this man, even though he almost took everything away from me."

"One thing about being a hero is having resistant even for those we hate." Steve said.

Tony sighed as he pulled his eyes away from him and looked at Steve. He gave him a pat on the back.

"Thanks, and I'm sorry… for everything."

"I know, and I forgive you. It took a while, but here we are friends again."

The two nodded and shook hands. Putting cuffs on Victor, he picked up him putting him on shoulder.

"I got him. He won't be bothering anyone for a very long time."

Tony nodded and headed toward the hospital. He sighed, but he was glad this was all over.

A few days later, Peter and was at his new apartment. He walked out of the kitchen with two plates of food in hand. Sitting one down in front of his aunt as he sat down beside her. Smiling, the two looked at the news as the video shows the cops arresting the Victor goons. Before the news anchor could say anything, she was cut off by men in suits wearing sunglasses with the logo of SHIELD could have been seen on a car.

"I am glad that's all over," Aunt May said, followed with a sigh.

"Yeah, and you're okay, I wouldn't know what I would do if you…" Peter couldn't say it.

Aunt May pulled Peter close, giving him a hug.

"Let's not think about it anymore and focus on the future."

"Yeah,"

Moment later Aunt May's phone rang. Setting down her fork, Aunt May picked it up and held it to ear.

"Hello?" May asked.

"May it's me Happy I was wondering if you were up for some company?" Happy asked.

"Sure, but…" Before Aunt May could finish, another voice could be head.

"We're coming to visit anyway!" A voice yelled.

"Tony…" a female voice followed.

Aunt May laughed. "Well, I can't wait to see you all."

Hanging up Aunt May, she looked at Peter.

"Better go pull out some more plates. Were about to get some company.

Smiling, Peter jump up heading to the kitchen for he had a feeling who was coming over to visit. And he couldn't wait to see them.

In the car with Happy in the driver's seat, Pepper looked out the window, annoyed, while Tony laid his hand on Pepper's who let out a frustrated sigh.

"You didn't have to come. Happy and I were just going to pop around for a quick visit." Pepper said.

"And I wanted to come," Tony said, and he moved closer to Pepper. "Beside as a knight, I want to keep my previous treasure close.

Pepper cheeks redden as she leaned in, snugging close to Tony, burring her face in his chest. Sighing contently, Tony stroked Pepper's back.

"I'm sorry,"

"I know, Tony said, rubbing her back. "I almost lost you. It scared me,"

"Me too. I'll be more careful." Pepper said, hugging her close.

"And I will do the same," Happy added.

"Good, and I will make an effort to be around more often."

Smiling, Pepper looked up into Tony's eyes as he looked back at her. As the two shared a kiss, Happy continued driving with a smile. For which has been broken has been healed and life can move on.