"In there! He's-he's crazy!" A teenage boy yelled, holding onto Peter's arm with a pained expression.
"It's okay, just get everyone away from here." Peter replied, looking up at the building. "Can you do that?"
The boy hesitated, "I don't think you should go in there, Spider-Man, that thing's crazy." He quickly turned at the shouts of a woman behind him.
"You did great, and all you need to do now is help me by helping them." Peter explained, a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Can you do that?" He asked when the boy didn't reply.
"Yeah. Okay, dude, just be careful…" he shook his head and trailed off, giving him a thumbs up as he walked off to help the injured group of people.
Peter watched them and then turned his eyes back at the foreboding building. He walked towards it cautiously, stopping at the broken double doors.
"Ned?"
"I'm here, and I think you should go back. That guy's clearly crazy, it's nearly ten-thirt-"
"Go back? That guy-thing killed people, and he's there, right now!"
"Exactly, he killed people, dude, maybe you should just wait for the cops or call Mr-"
"He's there now, he'll get away if we wait!" Peter whisper-shouted. his face ducked into the corner on the side of the door.
"Dude, I'm telling you as your best friend and helper, you can't go in there-"
An echo inside disrupted his conversation and Peter looked up inside the doors. He squinted and saw the light movements with the night vision in his suit.
"Hello?" He shouted, kicking the door open further and walking in, quickly scanning the area around him. A hand fell to his feet and he jumped, bending down quickly to check for a pulse, which wasn't there. "Shit."
"What's happening?" Ned asked in panic.
"A man…he's-he's dead."
"Pet-" the bluetooth buzzed and Peter frowned.
"Ned? Ned!" He whispered as loud as he could, sighing in frustration.
He walked forwards and frowned at the shuffle near the half crumbled stairs. "Hey!" He ran and webbed the ceiling, swinging up and landing on the second floor.
"The police's coming, you might as well just-"
An object flung right by him and he stumbled to the side, quickly turning around and blindly shooting a web in the distance and hiding behind a pillar.
He was about to take a look when the pillar crumbled, seconds from falling on him as he ran to the second one. "We can talk! If you stop trying to kill me-"
"I don't need to talk." A deep voice answered, and Peter frowned.
"Karen, keep him in sight." He ordered, and turned to see a strangely shaped outline glowing brightly.
"I would advise leaving and calling for backup, Peter, he seems to be using armour."
"We've dealt with armour before." Peter said quickly and quietly.
"I'm not harming anyone." The voice said again.
Peter scoffed, "harming? There's a dead guy downstairs, you kidnapped all those-"
"Leave."
"I'm sorry, dude, but I can't keep letting you run around killing people." Peter replied, keeping his eyes on the red outline behind the pillar without moving an inch.
"Test subjects, those people won't be missed."
"That's not for you to decide."
"Then you won't be missed." The man said without hesitation, and Peter squinted at the outline, jumping back when the distance between them disappeared in seconds. He locked down and threw one of the pieces of crumbled concrete towards the man, taking advantage of the fall to circle to the back.
"I definitely will be!" He shouted, webbing the legs and pulling backwards. "I have lots-" he slammed down something metal and pokey that nearly hit him, "-of people that'd miss me!"
"Then you shouldn't be spending your time-" the man turned and clawed at Peter with something inhuman, "-in this part of town!" He added a humourless laugh, and for some reason, that surprised Peter enough for the man to kick his leg, sending him flat on his back.
"It's all Queens, isn't it?" Peter said, dodging a hit to the face.
The more or less harmless tactics had to have continued for another ten minutes before it happened. He got ready to throw a web and the thing clawed at his face. Peter felt the cold metal slash down the side of his face and he yelled, tripping backwards and feeling that same pain, but worse, across his stomach.
"Peter, you should definitely-"
He screamed, because he felt like he'd just been ripped apart. His hands shook wildly as he stared at the ceiling from the floor.
His screams turned into gasps, and he was being dragged across the floor in the next few seconds.
"The armour's not quiet done." He heard the man speak, but it was a echoey statement that disappeared in the background before he could properly comprehend it. "But we're making progress."
Peter squirmed, inhaling for air and trying to grasp at the floor to stop himself from being tugged across.
He blinked a few times to get a better look and webbed at the hinge connecting the claw and the man's arm, pulling at it as hard as he could. It must've broken something, because he heard swearing.
There was a pause and the thing turned to face him again. He heard a smash right next to his face and squinted, feeling the floor crumbled underneath him. Of course that was the perfect time to run out of web.
There was a loud grumbling noise as the building shook, the concrete underneath him disappearing. He scrambled to his feet as soon as he fell through, stopping himself from passing out.
He looked up at the hole in the floor above, breaking into a cough. He hunched over and exhaled, hands on his knees as he glared at the door in front of him. He could see the yellow streetlight as a blur through the head injury and tears. Okay, he couldn't handle this one.
"Peter, you should get medical attention immediately." Karen stated obviously.
He started walking, eyes glued to the door. His walk turned into a sprint, and he took a breath of relief when he was outside.
There was the distance chatter of people on the nearby street, and he limped to the corner of the building. "Okay, Karen, call Mr Stark." He mumbled, sliding onto the floor and pressing his hands against the slash on his stomach.
Tony answered almost straight away, "Spider-Man. How's the night going?"
"It's…going, I-I need some help." Peter said, keeping his voice as normal as he could.
"Yeah? That's a first, with what?"
"That-the metal monster guy, I-"
"Right, right, the Metal Man? That what they're calling him?"
"I found him and we-" he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a gasp.
"What was that? You didn't fight him. That's why you're calling, right?"
"I did…fight him, and it-it didn't go well, I need help." He said again, voice sounding more tired and sleepy.
"Where did he get you?"
"Kinda everywhere…" he trailed off.
"That doesn't sound good."
"Can you just please hurry?"
"I told you not to be an idiot, not do stuff like this, and that's obviously too hard for you." Tony said, landing in front of Peter, who was terrified out of his mind when he did, only relaxing when he saw who it was.
"What the hell happened?" Tony asked, a list of hotspots visible in front of him on Peter.
"That guy was stro-" he stopped again and cried out in pain.
Tony stepped out of the suit, bending down next to him and looking him over. There were two deep gashes on his chest and stomach, and another one running from his temple to his neck.
He looked at the wall Peter was leaning against, "is he in there?"
Peter winced, "yeah, yeah he's in there."
"Is it painful?"
"You're gonna leave him in there-" his face scrunched up and the sentence faded.
"Yes, because you're my top priority right now." He answered, looking up behind the wall again. He couldn't see anything with the suit and focused on Peter again.
Peter was tightly clutching his neck, feeling the blood under his hands from the cut. "It's-it's not stopping," he mumbled.
"Let me see." Tony ordered, one hand on Peter's as he slowly lifted it and squinted at the wound. It was deep, and Peter's breathing was quickening. "Doesn't look like it's hit anything, Friday?"
"You are right, but it it causing an extensive loss of blood."
"Okay, I underestimated." Tony muttered, more or less to himself. "Can you stand?"
"I can't-I can't even breathe." Peter whispered. Tony held his shoulder and frowned, "stay calm, you'll be fine."
He looked down at Peter's shaking right hand and traced his hand up to his shoulder, nothing so far.
"What are you doing?"
"It's shaking." Tony answered, gripping his shoulder and removing his hand to see the blood. He pulled Peter forwards and felt around the back of his shoulder, stopping when he felt something sticking out. He huffed in frustration and that caught Peter's attention.
"What-what is it?" He tried turning his head and Tony stopped him, holding his face with one hand and turning it away.
"Nothing, it's nothing. Does it hurt around the shoulder?"
"No, no, tell me what's-" he broke into a cough and the shaking got worse.
"Just look at me, you'll be…"
That was the last thing he heard before his eyes closed. He could hear Tony calling to him in the back but couldn't keep himself from drifting off.
"I mean, Metal dude apparently has metal claws, so it's pretty consistent. That was definitely what hit him." Helen nodded, looking through the window to where Peter was.
"So, it's nothing serious?"
Helen sighed, "actually, he damaged a nerve in the shoulder."
"But it'll heal?" Tony asked when he didn't continue with the diagnosis. "Helen, it'll heal?"
"It hasn't healed, I don't know the extent of his healing factor, I don't know what to tell you."
"You can start with explaining what all that means."
"Okay, well we can start with pain, and a lot of it. I'm guessing his strength will also be affected, maybe there'll be some sensitivity to temperatures, light-"
"He already has that."
"Amplify it." Helen said, and Tony closed his eyes in frustration. "There might be some trouble with walking and…standing, I-we'll know when he wakes up."
"And there's nothing you can do?"
"I didn't say that, I can probably fix it, but I need to him to wake up first." Helen explained, "there won't be a point if he's going to heal in a few hours anyway."
Tony sighed, folding his arms and shaking his head, "I can't believe this, what was he thinking?" He stepped forwards in anger.
"Well, e does this everyday, I doubt he thought tonight was going to be any different." Helen said, earning a look from Tony, "hey, I keep up with the news." She smiled, "I'll be back tomorrow."
She walked off and Tony looked back through the window. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he reached down to pick up. "Hello?"
"Is he with you? He better be with you, I'm seconds away from calling the-"
"His-his phone broke, yeah, he's with me." Tony said as soon as he recognised that worried voice.
"Broke? This is-" she sighed on the other side of the line, "-let me talk to him. Now."
"He-he got into a little accident-"
"Little accident? What accident? Is he okay?"
"Yeah, he's okay, I'm keeping him here for two-three days to make sure. Doctor's cleared him."
"How? Was it-the news said it was that guy in metal?"
"Yeah, he, uh, he fought him but he's here now, he's fine. Just keeping him to make sure."
"Okay. Okay, thanks."
"I'll send you a car-"
"I'm-well I'm not in Queens right now. I'll be back by five in the-"
"He's fine. Don't drive overnight, I can keep him in one place till then." He smiled, and May sighed again.
"Tomorrow afternoon-evening by latest. Thanks, Tony."
"Always." He ended the call and looked up at Peter before walking out. Peter would be asleep for most of the night if not all, and there was nothing he could do here.
"The armour's not quite done." A voice said, somewhere in the dark. Peter looked around in confusion, but it was too, well, black, to see anything. He felt something violently tug him from behind and grabbed the metal claw with his hand.
The ground disappeared under him and he screamed all the way down, which was a journey that didn't seem to end any time soon-
"Peter!"
The call jerked him awake, and he could hear himself gasp for air as his screaming died down. He grabbed the hand pushing his shoulder down and the grip softened, letting him sit up.
"Easy!" Tony said as Peter's eyes scanned the room, his face showing nothing but panic. "It's me."
Peter brought up his right hand to the back of his head and his face scrunched up in a mixture of pain and fear. Tony held him by the shoulder and stared at him, "Peter," he tried again, "it's okay." He reassured him, pulling him in for a light hug.
Peter looked down at his shaking left hand and frowned, "why's it still shaking?" He mumbled, feeling his heartbeat slowing and his breathing steadying.
"Hasn't healed yet, now stop worrying about that." Tony said, hearing Peter huff and move his head, which was resting against his shoulder. "It was a nightmare?"
"Uh huh." Peter whispered in shaky response, which was unintentional of course, because everything he said was coming out quieter than he intended.
"About what?" Tony asked, keeping Peter still in his hold.
"Uh, just-just falling somewhere." Peter said quietly. He could still feel his heart racing, but it was nothing like before.
Tony nodded slowly, "you're not there-"
"Anymore, I know. It was-I'm fine. I'm fine." He pulled away and blinked away the tears that had been forming.
"You damaged a nerve in your shoulder. If it doesn't heal, the doctor's will fix it." Tony informed him, noticing the pained face the boy made when he moved his shoulder.
"It'll heal." Peter said monotonously, sighing and frowning, "I know I said I'd ask for help last time, I'm sorry I didn't, I-"
"You didn't know it was gonna get that bad." Tony cut in, and Peter looked at him, surprised. "I'm not gonna be this nice next time, so cherish this."
Peter smiled, "thanks."
"Your aunt's coming today, afternoon, I think."
"Great." He pursed his lips, looking past Tony and at the floor in deep thought.
"Hey, it'll be fine, don't worry about it."
"Yeah, I know, I know, it'll heal soon,"
"That's not what I was talking about." Tony said, furrowing his brows. Peter looked up in confusion and then realised.
"Right, right, yeah." He yawned and squinted, running his hand through his hair.
Tony patted his shoulder, "get some sleep, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Right, okay." He replied as Tony got up. He watched him leave and then fell backwards onto the bed.
He stared at the white-painted ceiling for another few minutes, feeling something heavy on his chest - regret, sadness, things he hadn't felt before.
Exhaling, he closed his eyes, falling asleep again.
One month later
He woke up to the sound of his phone blaring at 4:50. He opened his eyes, grabbed the phone and stopped it, sighing and throwing it on the other side of the bed.
He was ready thirty-minutes later, and threw his bag over his shoulders, making his way out of his room as quietly as he could. He closed the door behind him and turned, freezing when three familiar faces stared at him as if they'd caught a thief breaking in.
"What-what are you-" he stuttered, tensing and frowning.
May sighed, "where are you going?" She asked it softly, but it sounded condescending.
Peter opened his mouth to speak and looked at Tony and Happy, who were also waiting for an answer. "I'm-I have school."
"It's 5:20." She almost yelled, pausing when she saw him uncomfortably avoid her gaze. "It's 5:20, school doesn't start for another three hours. Where are you going?"
He glared at her and then at the other two visitors. "What is this? I don't-is this some sort of intervention-"
"No one said that." Tony spoke up for the first time, "we're just here to talk."
Peter looked back disbelievingly and scoffed, "at 5:30?"
"Why, what's so important, where could you possibly have to be at 5:30? Every single day for the last two weeks you're out before I even wake up. You-you go to sleep at around midnight and you're up just four hours later and-where do you go?" May scolded as quietly as she could.
Happy looked like he was the most uncomfortable out of the three adults. "We're just trying to help." He said quietly.
"Help with what? I don't need help with anything!" Peter said loudly, pulling the doorknob of his room in as he walked towards the front door.
"Peter!" May called, and Tony grabbed his arm.
"Kid, just hear us out."
"I don't want to."
"That's too bad."
"It is." Peter nodded, pushing Tony back a little too hard as he watched the man stumble. He stepped forwards in reflex to help and then stopped.
"You're not going anywhere." May said, like she said everytime she grounded him, and this time Peter didn't listen. He looked at the disapproving faces and opened the front door, leaving before they could stop him.
He was halfway racing down the stairs when he stopped, closing his eyes and leaning against the railing.
He heard the tapping of another pair of shoes right behind him and and threw his head back in anger. "It's been two weeks, everyone gave you space, what the hell are you doing?"
He looked up the stairs to see Tony and huffed in annoyance, "what are you doing?"
"We're not doing this, you said you're over it so act like it, or tell someone, because this is-"
"I accidentally-" was all he managed to say before he looked away and froze.
"What? You accidentally what?"
"I killed someone."
Tony frowned, moving his glasses down and staring intensely. "What?"
"I'm not…I went into that building and went upstairs and there was someone downstairs that I didn't even bother to check, and then the-the building just-it fell, and-" he rubbed the back of his neck in panic.
Tony shook his head a little and looked through the railings before looking back at Peter. "You got hurt too, you can't get…you saved twenty lives." Tony justified, throwing up his hands in the air.
"Yeah, and I took one."
"You did not take one." He unbuttoned his jacket and took a seat on the top of the stairs, nodding at Peter to join. Peter clenched his jaw and followed suit. "This is the first of many bad experiences you'll have."
"That doesn't help."
"It's not supposed to." He looked at Peter and cleared his throat, "you need to find a way to deal with it."
"I have. I found a great way to deal with it."
"Jumping off buildings in the winter for three hours in the morning isn't a way."
"You blew up your house. I think my way's fine."
"Yeah, well I'm not a role model."
"Out of all the Avengers, I'd say you are."
Tony smiled proudly, "your aunt-"
"Pretends to not like you."
Tony smiled, "good to hear. You wanna go back upstairs now?"
Peter hesitated, "not really."
"Sorry, my fault for making it sound like you had a choice."
Peter scoffed, "thanks, Mr Stark."
"Call someone, like me, next time you have a crisis like this."
"Okay."
"I know you won't, but doesn't hurt to ask, again."
I don't even know how I managed to finish this after watching that trailer tbh, but here it is - leave reviews!