A/N: Warning: I didn't put anything graphic in here but then again what I consider not graphic some might consider graphic. I feel like that made sense but who knows. Anyway, mentions of blood and stuff in this chapter. Like I said nothing graphic. I'm just putting the warning up a precaution. Happy Reading! Reviews are appreciated too.
The dark figure stood with his back turned, hood up, facing the opened door. Wind sailed through the crack, leaving a whistling sound its wake. Looking around Peter noticed he was back. Back at the same spot where his aunt died. Pictures decorated the walls, ones of May and Ben, as well as a few with all three of them and one with Peter each. Something landed on his shoulder but when Peter looked all he saw was red. Looking back at the figure, Peter noticed he turned. Under the hood where the face was supposed to be was black, except the white eyes that stared out at him.
"Who are you?" Peter asked as he tried walking forward only to find himself being held to the ground. Looking down he saw white webs attaching themselves to his feet. He tried kicking them off but they only grabbed a hold of his ankle and started traveling up his leg. Looking back up at the figure, he froze.
A large kitchen knife slowly slid out from where one of the hands was supposed to be. Bloodstained half of the blade.
"Help me," a voice croaked from the ground. Looking down, Peter saw May staring up at him with pleading eyes. Blood dripped out of her mouth while staining her teeth. "You're Spiderman, help me."
Peter looked back up at the figure and struggled with everything he had to break free from the webs that bound him. Nothing worked. A small yet dark chuckle escaped the mouth of the figure, causing a shiver to roll down Peter's body. His senses screamed at him to do something but he stood there helplessly trying to struggle with the webs.
"Such as shame," the figure said quietly. Hearing the familiar voice, the air was knocked out of Peter's lungs. With the other hand, the figure reached up and removed the hood. Staring at the face, Peter froze. All the air in the room seemed to go still making it hard to breathe. Peter gasped as he started frantically clawing at the webs, but nothing worked. The figure walked towards him...no towards Aunt May.
"No, please don't!" Peter begged as he tried to push the figure away only for his hands to go straight through the body. "Stop! I'll do anything! Please leave her alone!"
The air in the room seemed to be sucked out leaving Peter breathless. With the webs now wrapped around his waist locking him in place all he could do was try and get in some oxygen. The figure stopped right in front of May and looked right at Peter.
"Such as shame," he repeated. The figure bent down leaving Peter the only option of turning his head away as he had no choice but to listen to the screams of May Parker.
Suddenly, silence greeted him. Footsteps could be heard as the figure came around to stand face to face with Peter. Leaving him to look into the murderous eyes. The same eyes he looked at every morning in the mirror. For the face of the figure was his.
Peter jolted awake gasping for air. The room he was in was dark but the large windows allowed a little of the sunrise to peek through. Glancing around, in search of his aunt, Peter took in the bed, the tv, and the high ceiling. Reality came crashing back to him as did the oxygen he craved. Aunt May was dead and he is at the Avengers compound.
"Spiderman, it appears that you are in distress. Would you like me to alert someone?"
Peter jumped as he looked around wildly but he looked up at the ceiling. "Uh.." clearing his throat with a cough, he continued, "Um...no thank you."
"Very well," the AI stated and if Peter didn't know any better he would say that she sounded disappointed. Running a hand through his wet, matted hair, Peter stood up. As he stretched, a smell reached his nose. Carefully turning his head to the side, he dropped his arms immediately. Sweating while wearing the Spiderman suit all night is not a good combination. Silently cursing, he grabbed his mask and pulled it on. Taking one last look around, he opened the door cautiously before peeking out.
The halls were quiet and dark. However, due to his super hearing, Peter was able to hear the sound of someone snoring from another room. Placing one foot in front of the other, he tiptoed down the hall but froze when his foot made the ground creek. The sound echoed down the hall, and he stood there waiting to see which avenger would come out. When nobody seemed to stir, Peter grabbed the wall and proceeded to climb his way through.
He made it to the living room area and started to go to the kitchen when a deep voice stopped him.
"You know, Tony isn't going to like the fact that you are leaving footprints on his walls."
Peter jumped down, landing in a defensive position. His eyes did a quick sweep of the room but stopped when they landed on the man sitting on the sofa eating a pop tart. Standing up straight, Peter stumbled over an apology. The man waved his hands as if he were personally trying to ward off the words.
"Sorry Mr. Winter Soldier, sir."
"Stop," he said sternly. Peter closed his mouth with a snap. Heat filled his face as he looked down. Sensing the mood on the boy, he sighed. "Just call me Bucky. Everyone else does." Peter nodded before looking back at his feet, silently cursing himself for making a fool of himself in front of an Avenger. Silence filled the room as Bucky stared at the mask that covered the boy's face. "What are you doing up? I thought all kids slept in?"
"Um...they do. I just have somewhere I have to be."
"Oh."
"Yes, uh...I guess I'll be going then."
Bucky nodded and turned his attention back to his pop tart. Peter turned and started to walk away before an idea popped in his head. Turning back to the man, Peter cleared his throat. "Uh..excuse me, Mr. Winter-" he trailed off at the look he received. "Sorry, Mr. Bucky, sir." With an eye roll, Bucky waved at Peter to continue. "Do you mind if I take some food with me?"
Bucky looked up at that request before his face settled with a frown. "You're right, sorry. I shouldn't have asked. Nevermind." Peter turned to leave but stopped when a firm voice rang out.
"Stop."
Freezing on sight, Peter waited. "I'm not going to talk to your back, kid. Turn around so I can look at you." Peter hesitated before turning to look at the man. Bucky sized him up before nodding his head at the kitchen. "Go ahead and take what you want. There's plenty."
A smile graced Peter's face, even though Bucky couldn't see it. "Thank you Mr. W-Bucky sir."
Bucky nodded once before turning back to his food. Peter rushed into the kitchen and started picking out three of everything. Three apples, three bananas, three oranges, three pop tarts, three puddings, and three Gatorade and three juice boxes. Looking down at the food, he decided that it would be enough. He didn't want to take everything. Setting the food on the counter, Peter's spidey senses started going off. Glancing to the side he was Bucky staring at him, watching his every move as if he were a kid with a magnifying glass and Peter was the anthill. Trying to ignore him, Peter continued going about his task. Once he had all the food collected together in one pile, he studied it with a frown.
How was he going to carry it? His backpack was left webbed to a skyscraper. Turning to the avenger who was still watching him, he cleared his throat. "D...Do you have a trash bag I could use?"
Lifting an eyebrow at the request, Bucky pointed in his direction. "Behind you, the first cabinet on the right." Peter nodded and went to the instructed location. Finding the object, he opened his before carefully dumping food into it. Tying it off, he swung it over his shoulder while making a hasty exit. The gaze of the former Sargent was becoming too much. It was at that moment that Peter froze. Taking a deep breath he turned. Bucky was still staring at him.
"Sorry to bother you again, Mr. Bucky, sir. Um...can you...can you tell me how to get back to Queens?" Bucky stared at him through narrowed eyes. Shoving the rest of his pop tart in his mouth, he stood. Wiping his hands on his pants, he walked past Peter.
"Follow me," he called over his shoulder. Peter stood there stunned for a moment before he rushed to catch up with the older man.
"You could just tell me which way to go," Peter voiced. Bucky remained quiet as he walked down the long corridor and outside. "You don't have to take me."
"I'm not. I'm showing you a shortcut I found while I was taking a walk one day. It beats having to take so many turns on the road."
"Oh," Peter said quietly. Silence hugged them as they walked down a path before reaching the woods. Peter came to a stop. "Are you taking me out here to kill me?" He asked suddenly. Bucky stopped walking and turned to face him. Lifting an eyebrow, he stared the boy up and down.
When he spoke, his voice came out low and steady. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already." Peter backed up slowly out of habit. Rolling his eyes once more, Bucky turned to the woods and pointed. "Go through here until you come to a path. Take the path until it ends. From there go left until you see a farm. Up the road from that farm, you'll find a bakery. When you reach the bakery take another left. Go straight until you hit the edge of the city. I think you can find your way there."
Peter nodded as he looked at the woods. Okay. So go til the path ends, head right then the bakery and farm?"
"No. Path until it ends, head left then until you reach the farm, then the bakery."
"Okay got it."
Bucky turned and looked at the kid clenching the trash bag. "Repeat it back to me."
Frowning Peter tilted his head. "I heard-"
"Repeat it back to me," Bucky said again, leaving no room for arguments.
"Okay, go through here until I come to a path. Take the path until it ends. From there go left until I see a farm. Up the road from that farm, I'll find a bakery. When I reach the bakery take another left. Go straight until I hit the edge of the city. I should be able to find my way from there."
Bucky nodded as he stepped away and headed back in the direction of the compound. Peter stared after him before calling out. When Bucky turned to look at him, heat rushed to Peter's face. "Uh...I just wanted...um...thank you."
The winter soldier nodded once. "Be back before the street lights come on, or Steve will have my head." When Peter nodded, Bucky turned back around and walked away. Once he disappeared Peter nodded slowly.
"Hmm. Nice guy."
Turning back to the woods, Peter took a deep breath before launching himself through, repeating the older man's instructions over and over in his head.
