Hey everyone! Welcome back!
If you prefer to read on Ao3, it's posted there!
Anyway, enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters! They belong to the MCU! I only own the plot!
Peter is dragged out of the room and down a hall into another room. But Peter's gears are turning. He could easily take these two guys. Sure they're huge and he'd just been drugged, but what choice did he have?
"Before you try anything, the boss wanted me to let you know, try to escape and I'll tell him to beat the shit out of Stark." the man on his right said nonchalantly, as he handcuffed Peter's hand to the pole in the middle of the room.
Peter mentally curses. Whatever he tried to do could result negatively for Tony. Peter had to prevent that whenever he was capable.
"Chillax. I'm not going to waste my energy on you guys." Peter says, rolling his eyes. The guy scoffed and they both leave the room. As soon as they walk out the door, Peter examines the pole, ignoring the fatigue in his bones and light-headedness from God knows what they gave him. He's discouraged to find it's the same material as the outside of the door and handcuffs.
"Geez. How much time did these guys spend planning this?" Peter muttered to himself. These people weren't messing around. Which kinda sucked for Peter. He was going to have to try to convince Ryan to let him go back to Tony, which would be next to impossible. But then again, he didn't have a choice. After a few minutes, Mr. Satan himself opened the door and walked into Peter's room.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"My my! What hospitality you have here! The luxury of my chambers is unparalleled." Peter quips.
"Glad you like it because you're going to be in here for a long time kid." Ryan says, grabbing a foldable chair from the corner of the room and sitting down. Peter grimaces at the nickname.
"So what is this? Are we going to have tea and talk about our feelings?" Peter asks, smirking.
"Nope. No tea today sorry. But, we are going to talk." Ryan tells him, crossing his legs out in front of him.
"Always love a good conversation with my favorite captor. Go ahead, I insist!" Peter tells him, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ryan leans forward, regarding him. "You're pretty brave Peter. Other kids would be a sniffling mess right about now." Ryan says thoughtfully.
"Aw stop it you." Peter gushes.
"Can I ask you a question?" Ryan asks.
"You just did bud." Peter tells him. Ryan ignores him.
"You aren't the least bit ashamed of yourself?" Ryan asks seriously.
Peter smirks. "I think you should be asking yourself that."
"But really. You seem to have a curse. You're parents died. Your uncle bled out in your arms. Bad things happen to the people you get close to. Yet, you're still selfish. You let yourself get close to Tony. You're not the least bit concerned this is your fault?" Ryan asks with a bored tone. Peter stays silent which encourages Ryan to continue.
"You've let yourself get close with Stark, and now look where he is. Do you think it's just a coincidence?"
Peter chokes on nothing. Ryan had hit a soft spot.
"Stop." he mutters.
"Ah, so you do know. You know it's your fault your uncle is dead and you know it's your fault Tony is here too. You let yourself get close to him and now he might never start a family or have a kid. His own kid. You took that away Peter." Ryan says, looking at him in mock disgust.
Peter feels the tears at the back of his eyes. He had buried these kinds of thoughts deeper and deeper each time Tony called him his kid, or worried about him. But they were always there, those insecurities. Deep down, Peter knew Ryan was just trying to get to him but the guilt that consumed him, consumed that as well.
"You really think Tony Stark, the billionaire, genius, philanthropist would care about a puny teenager from Queens of all places? He only gives a shit because he has to kid. Your SpiderMan so he feels responsible for you. If you actually thought he cares about you, you're more naive than I thought." Ryan smirks.
"You're wrong." Peter says, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"Am I? If Stark gets out of here, he'll marry Pepper Potts, have a kid and forget about you. You think you'll matter to him after he has his own flesh-and-blood kid?"
"S-stop it." Peter says, trying to block out the sound of the man's voice.
"You're nothing to Stark kid. Just a piece in the game." Ryan says, getting up off the chair and standing in front of Peter.
"It's kinda pathetic that you actually thought he loves you." Ryan says, before walking out the door and slamming it shut leaving a trembling Peter on the floor.
.
.
.
.
.
.
An hour earlier. . .
"You bastard! Bring him back right now!" Tony yells, glaring daggers at Ryan who was closing the door behind them.
Ryan pretends to think about it. "Hmm. Maybe after I'm done with him." Ryan tells him.
Tony glowers at Ryan but keeps his voice steady and deadly. "Just think about it, Ryan. When I get out of here, and you know I will, whatever you do to Peter, me and the Avengers will do twice as much to you. Think before you lay a hand on my kid." Tony tells him dangerously.
Ryan smirks and walks to the door, fingering the handle. "Who said I was going to touch him?" he asks mockingly. Then he shuts the door leaving Tony to wonder…
What the hell does that mean?
.
.
.
Ryan comes into Peter's room every hour. And every hour, he tells Peter how he is a curse, how he should be ashamed of himself, how no one was safe around him, and how Tony never loved him, and never will. Ryan brought him plenty of food and water and at first, he ate but he slowly lost his appetite. Peter willed himself to be strong, to not let Ryan's harsh words get to him. But slowly, word by word, the words got engraved into his skull. Somewhere inside him, he knew Ryan was wrong, that Tony did care about him as much as he cared about Tony, but hearing that you're useless, worthless, pathetic and a curse, day in and day out every hour could make even the strongest person crumble.
"Peter. Tell me what you are." Ryan commands. Peter looks down.
"I'm a burden. I'm worthless." he says with empty eyes.
Ryan nods in approval. "And what did you do to Tony?"
"I ruined his life." Peter replies, his voice monotone. Peter tried to tell himself that it wasn't true. That he made Tony's life better as much as Tony had made his life better. But he couldn't. The only person who could convince him of that, wasn't here.
"Good. I think you're ready to see him. I think he'll like what he sees." Ryan says as he releases Peter from the pole. The two men come back and manhandle him to Tony's room And for once, Peter is completely silent.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Peter is thrown into Tony's room and the two guys leave the room.
"Pete!" Tony says, relief coloring his tone. Peter looks down and Tony frowns in concern. Ryan smirks, walks over to Tony, and releases him from the handcuffs. Tony rubs his wrists and runs straight at Peter wrapping his arms around him. Ryan smiles evilly and leaves the room.
Peter keeps looking down, unable to look into his mentor's eyes as he holds him at shoulder-length.
"What happened? Pete? Why aren't you talking?" Tony asks, looking him over. He's confused. Nothing seems to be wrong with Peter. They didn't do anything to him?
"Talk to me kiddo." Tony says, reaching to stroke a hand through his kid's hair. Peter flinches away and Tony recoils as if he was burnt. Peter wordlessly walks to the corner of the room and sits down, trembling. Tony was terrified. What did that ass do to his kid?
Tony walks over to Peter and sits down. "Peter." he says quietly. The amount of fear in the man's tone makes Peter look up.
"I-I'm sorry." Peter whispers, tears rolling down his face. Tony pulls him in for a hug and despite himself, Peter lets him. Because he's selfish. Peter is disgusted in himself, but he can't help it.
"You have nothing to be sorry for kiddo. Tell me what happened bud." Tony says softly. Peter looks at Tony with eyes devoid of life, devoid of Peter. Something clicks within Tony.
"Peter. What did he tell you?" Tony asks seriously. Peter looks down at his hands and shakes his head, his tears already threatening to come back.
"Ok. ok. Then I'll talk. You'll believe me over him right?" Tony asks. Peter nods and Tony continues.
"I love you buddy. Whatever that douche told you, it's not true. You're the purest, kindest, best kid I know and I don't deserve you. I never will, but here I am. If you believe him over me, I guess I haven't been the father-figure you needed." Tony says, sighing.
Peter's eyes well up. Somehow, Tony knew exactly what to say. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry Tony. I ruined y-your life. I-It's my fault w-we're here. I have a curse a-and I was selfish and-," Peter tries.
"Stop it Peter. You are not a curse and this is not your fault. And Pete, you're the reason my life is better. Is...is that what he told you?" Tony asks, horrified. Peter averted his eyes and nods.
"Every hour...of every day." Peter whispers.
"Oh my God. Peter, it's been 4 days." Tony murmurs pulling his kid in close. "I'll kill him." Tony tells himself.
"What did he do to you?" Peter asks, his eyes roaming Tony's body, thankfully not finding anything.
"I waited. For 4 days. Not knowing what was happening to you." Tony says, taking labored breaths. Peter takes in the dark bags underneath his mentor's eyes.
"You need to sleep. Please." Peter says. Peter needed some time to readjust his brain. He needed to rid himself of the muck Ryan planted in his brain for days on end.
"No, we need to talk. I need to know everything he said to you." Tony insists.
"Tony. You're going to make yourself sick and that's the last thing we need right now. Sleep. I'll be fine." Peter tells him.
"Did you sleep?" Tony asks, concerned.
"Yes." Peter half-lies. He did in the beginning, but after being called worthless for hours on end, he didn't really feel like sleeping anymore.
Tony sighs and nods. "Ok. Fine."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Peter tenses as Ryan enters the room a few hours later.
"Is daddy asleep?" Ryan asks mockingly. Peter immediately takes on a defensive position, shielding Tony from view.
"So, how are you doing Pete?" Ryan asks, leaning on the door.
Peter fixes a glare on his face. "First of all, don't call me that. Second, you think you got to me? Well, you didn't. You don't scare me and you don't scare Tony either. And when we get out of here, you better watch out." Peter threatens.
Ryan nods approvingly. "Either you're stronger than I thought or your relationship with Stark is stronger. I'll keep that in mind."
Peter stays silent.
"Now, wake him up or I will. And I don't think you'll like how I'll do it." Ryan tells him. After one last loathsome look, Peter turns around to see Tony still in a fitful sleep.
"Tony. Wake up."
"Mmm."
"Tony."
Tony's eyes fly open and he immediately pushes Peter behind him.
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Tony mutters to Peter, glaring at Ryan.
"Just did." Peter replies. Tony rolls his eyes and looks back to Ryan.
"What do you want?" Tony growls.
"To make you miserable." Ryan sneers. Someone comes in with some sort of machine and Ryan's two goons are back, standing at the door menacingly. Tony immediately puts an arm out, shielding Peter. One of the guys hands Ryan a gun and handcuffs.
"Move or I'll shoot you." Ryan tells Tony. Tony doesn't move an inch. Peter pushes Tony's arm aside abruptly and stands in front.
"Peter. Get behind me right now." Tony says, looking at Ryan with a dangerous stare. Peter gives him a look.
"I'm not going to stand by and let him shoot you." Peter says. Ryan gives him a small smile.
"Good boy." he says, and puts handcuffs on him. He then forces Peter to walk to the corner of the room and attaches the handcuffs to the wall.
"Wait. What are you doing?" Peter asks, tugging at the handcuffs.
"Oh, you thought I was taking you?" Ryan asks, smirking.
"No! Please! Don't-don't hurt him." Peter pleads. Tony breathes a sigh of relief.
"It's fine Pete." Tony says as they pull him over to the machine and hook him up.
"What are you doing to him?! Stop!" Peter yells, uselessly yanking on the chains.
"Don't worry Pete. It'll be your turn soon. Try to be patient." Ryan mocks.
"Don't you dare." Tony seeths. Ryan shrugs and looks at the guy at the controls.
"Start."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Tony didn't think there was anything worse than being waterboarded. That feeling of helplessness as your painfully dying of asphyxia is something Tony was sure was the worst thing to happen to him. Boy was he wrong. The feeling of electricity slowly but surely frying every nerve in his body and leaving a burning sensation behind definitely topped anything he had ever been through. Man, what Ten Rings would do to get their hands on this machine. It was the first time Tony screamed through any of his torture.
"I told you it would work. Again. And longer this time." Tony hears in the background. And it happened again. Each time was more excruciating than the last and Tony finally let go.
He was woken up again to the currents of electricity torturing his already weak body. Tony couldn't hear himself scream but he's sure he did.
"Can you take the kid out? My eardrums will thank me later." Ryan asks, clearly enjoying himself. The men comply, giving Tony at least a short break.
"Please d-don't. I-I'll do anything. Please." Peter cries. Peter tried. He tried to be strong. But he's not IronMan. And he never will be. It's too much for him. He's willing to put down everything just to avoid hearing that sound again. The screams that will haunt him in his sleep, if he ever sleeps again.
"Sorry kid. He deserves it." Ryan says, almost sympathetically. Peter musters up the last bit of courage and rage he has.
"You're daughter would be ashamed of you." Peter says, his voice low as he's taken out of the room.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Please tell me you two have found something. It's been 7 days Nat." Steve says, putting his head in his hands.
"They're not sending us footage Steve. They temporarily cut the power from the traffic cams somehow too. There's no way to recover any footage when they weren't on in the first place." Natasha says, putting her head on the desk in exhaustion.
"There has to be some way to get them." Steve insists.
"Yeah. Tony always had a tracker on him and the kid. Why can't we get a signal?" Rhodey asks, chugging his coffee.
"There's some kind of blocker. I can't get past it without knowing what it is and where it is." Clint replies, leaning back. "Then again, if we knew that, we would know where they are being kept."
"Where's Pepper? And May?" Natasha asks.
"Still in Pepper's room. Sometimes they go to Peter's room. But they're not looking too good." Rhodey says sadly.
"If anything happens to the kid…" Bruce trails off. They all sit down looking depressed. It was bad enough one of their leaders was taken. But at least, Tony would be able to defend himself if it was just him. If Peter was with him, they all knew Tony wouldn't try anything with his kid in harm's way. He would do everything in his power to keep him safe. But they also knew how protective Peter was over Tony. They all remember how Peter beat the living crap out of Steve for leaving Tony in the middle of a frozen wasteland when he finally found out. Then, he had gotten up, helped Steve up, and shook his hand saying, "Tony forgives you so I do too. But do something like that again and you'll regret it."
They all laugh at the memory now, as they are as close as a family again, but they knew Peter was serious. Even Steve admitted he was pretty scared of the teen which everyone relentlessly teases him for.
Everyone had grown fond of Peter. It was pretty much impossible not to love him. He had a special bond with each member of the team and they were all fiercely protective of him, even though he complains about it. He was the team's kid almost as much as he was Tony's. And whoever had hurt him, would have hell to pay. Steve and Natasha were especially anxious as well as enraged.
Though everyone loved Peter and he loved them right back, Steve and Natasha had an extra special bond with him. Whenever Peter trained and it wasn't with Tony, it was with Steve or Natasha, or even both. Natasha taught Peter how to do things that she had told herself not to reveal to anyone, like her favorite moves or special tactics in fights. She called him ребенок паук and he called her мама паук, and it was special to them. Steve on the other hand took a liking to Peter's spirit and goodness. He pushed Peter in training but they were also the best of friends. No wonder Tony felt so parental towards him. Who wouldn't?
"We have to get them back. There's no other option." Steve says, lifting his head. Everyone nods and they get back to their tirade.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Peter is brought back to the room after about 2 hours according to his mental clock. Without knowing what was going on, though he knew, all he could do was count. Count the hours, minutes, seconds. As he's brought back, Tony is still hooked up to the wretched machine, struggling to get out of his bonds. Peter's thrown into the room, which was getting a bit old, and the door was slammed behind him.
"Tony." Peter breaths, running to his mentor and freeing him from his binds. Tony stumbles slightly and Peter catches him, slowly lowering him to the ground.
"Oh shit." Tony mutters, closing his eyes and trying to ignore the unending pain. Peter doesn't know what to do except hold him tightly and try to stop his tears, so that's what he does.
"Don't. Don't cry kiddo." Tony says, trying to open his eyes, cursing at his body's weakness.
"Don't be a hypocrite Tony. What would you be doing if it was me?" Peter asks.
"Fair point." Tony groans. "When we get home, I'm making a tracker that looks like hair and sticking it on your head."
"That's impossible Tony. You can't make tech that thin and long, let alone a tracker." Peter says, knowing full well Tony was trying to distract him.
"Oh yeah? Well nothing's impossible for me kid. You should have a little more faith in me." Tony says, giving him a small smile and laying his head down in the teen's lap again.
"Whatever Tony. Just rest a little." Peter says, with the faintest wisp of a smile on his face.
"I'm the adult kid. You don't get to tell me what I should or shouldn't do." Tony teases, as he yawns. Peter rolls his eyes.
"Too bad. I just did. And I mean it." Peter says, looking at his mentor exasperatedly.
"Fine. Only cus you're the cutest SpiderBaby." Tony says, shifting slightly.
"Not cute and not a baby." Peter sighs as Tony falls asleep.
Peter smiles and places a light kiss on Tony's forehead.
Please review! I adore waking up to those notifications!
I love you all! Have a great day/night! :3