Peter Parker
Peter was relieved that he got Dr. Cho in the fridge when he did, a second later it would have been too late. Grabbing the nearest thing he could find - a rag by the counter - he held it over his face, trying to breath in as little of the gas as possible. He knew it wasn't going to work since he was locked into the lab, but it was a basic instinct to survive.
The gas was thick in appearance and gray in colour. Nothing too unusual from what Peter expected. He was holding his breath for the longest time in addition to using the rag, but eventually, he was forced to inhale it. To Peter's surprise, it wasn't a pungent smell at all, but instead, a sweet fragrance, like Magnolias. Didn't the most deadly stuff smell really nice though?
Peter was rewarded for his deduction with a cough. And another. The rag wasn't doing much, he realized, since he was already breathing it in, so moved to toss it aside.
There was a pounding sound which drew Peter's attention to the glass pane to his right; Mr. Stark was looking at him with both fear and distress. Peter could tell his mentor wanted to do something, break through the glass even, but he didn't, he couldn't. The gas was isolated in the AC-Lab right now and getting Peter out, it meant releasing the gas to the rest of those in the X-Lab.
Peter didn't want to feel emotional, he wanted to look brave, feel brave, show Mr. Stark that he was okay, that he wasn't scared. But that wasn't true. He was scared. But not scared enough to think about breaking out of the lab and having more people die along with him. Peter's breathing had grown steadily more laboured and the cough had also increased in frequency. After a painful cough that ripped through him, Peter by instinct covered his mouth with his hand. When it came away, he saw red. Oh. Not good .
Peter tried to hide the blood, wiped it on his already rather ruined shirt but he knew that Mr. Stark saw, his eyes said it all. He was blaming himself for this, Peter could see that he was. No, thought Peter, don't let this one be on you. It's not your fault! It's that crazy lunatic Quinn that's to blame. I chose this. I'm Spiderman remember. It's my job to protect people. Peter tried to say the words, but each time he tried, he only coughed harder. He didn't want that asshat Quinn to win. Wasn't that what the man wanted? To see Mr. Stark break?
It was starting to get harder for Peter to stay on his feet, despite wanting not to give into the fatigue. But the bloodloss and the gas together were not a good combination and he reluctantly gave in. Slowly he slid downwards, his back leaned against the lab table, and his face towards the glass pane. He looked at his mentor's anguished and pained face, and just wished he could change what was happening. Mr. Stark kept pounding against the glass, turning every once in a while to shout at someone Peter couldn't see. Yet the man never left Peter out of his sight, he always returned his steady gaze on to Peter. He wanted Peter to hold on. To tell him that help was coming.
Mr. Stark, I'm sorry , thought Peter. He wanted to not let his mentor down, hold out, be strong. But it was becoming so hard, each breath he took, it was growing more and more painful. Every part of Peter's being wanted to live. He didn't want to die, and least of all on Tony Stark's watch. This isn't on you, Tony, please don't feel that it is. It was probably the first time Peter was able to say his mentors' first name, even though it was only in his mind. It seemed to always elude him when he actually spoke to man. It was because he was used to calling him Mr. Stark, a title of respect. To call him Tony, it seemed too casual, like he would call someone who was his friend. Friend. Yeah, Tony was Peter's friend, but more than that really. He was someone that Peter really looked up to and admired. Much like his Uncle Ben.
Thinking about his uncle suddenly brought tears to Peter's eyes. God he missed him so much. He missed his humour. His hugs. His wisdom. Even his tough love. How many times had they butted heads, and Peter had never ever said that his uncle wasn't his father. Except that day, the day the incident happened. Tears fell from Peter's face thinking about it. He looked at Tony Stark and then to the scientists in the other room. Uncle Ben's final words of wisdom came to Peter's mind - with great power, comes great responsibility. I did good right, uncle Ben? There was a drumming in his ears and Peter couldn't hear the pounding of the glass pane anymore. Tony Stark's face was also blurring away. And the pain that had wracked through his body, that too was ebbing away. Things seemed to quiet, a sudden peacefulness seemed to wash over him. Peter found he couldn't and didn't want to fight anymore, the lull of the darkness was too strong. Slowly, he let his eyes close, allowing himself to fall into the embrace of nothingness. Like a whisper in the void, Peter could have sworn he heard his uncle Ben reply, you did good, Peter. Peter's lips curled into a smile at that.
Tony Stark
Tony Stark had been losing hope steadily for each minute he spoke to Quinn. The man had shot Peter. Attempted to kill Helen Cho. And he knew that the man was going to kill Harley and everyone outside the lab regardless of Tony's choice on the matter. Negotiation was just a front. Even though Tony knew this, it didn't lift the heavy weight on his chest.
For the time since Dr. Cho had taken Peter to the AC-Lab, the world seemed to be at a standstill for Tony. A part of him worried for Peter's state, seeing the kid convulse like that, it sent a chill in his body. The bullet may have moved, maybe to his heart or another vital area. All Tony could do was guess on that and also continue the futile attempt to talk sense to Quinn and in hopes of buying time so that someone would take notice that the X-Lab at Pharmax had been compromised.
Harley as a hostage, gave new perspective to how tough the kid was. He seriously was not afraid, just really really pissed. During the entire time that Quinn held him gun to the temple, the kid locked eyes on to Tony. Through that 'bond' that the Harley always claimed they had, the kid's message via eye contact was: Save the people in the lab, but kill the ash*le the first chance you get.
The logical part of Tony told him that as well. There were well over a three hundred people out there. But God, he couldn't do it. Even if Quinn was intending on killing Harley regardless, for Tony to say those words. To make that choice. There was panic building him as he saw Quinn's one hand start to hover over the gas release key on the console.
The words were on the tip of his tongue. Do the right thing Tony. And as if the universe decided save him from the most painful decision of his life, a blast of some kind suddenly rocked the lab. Tony saw James Rhodey, in War Machine mode, outside the lab door, blasting at it, though it was not making a dent. Behind him were a dozen agents in hazmat suits. Yes, the cavalry had arrived. With Rhodey's presence and the fact the agents all wore hazmat suits, it gave all the information Tony needed - the facility was cleared. Quinn no longer had a hold on Tony. Quinn, for all his smugness was finally taken by surprise. How Rhodey had figured it all out, he would have to thank him later. Right now, he was going to take down Quinn for what he did to Peter and the threats he had placed on his people.
Quinn managed a "How the Hell!" before Tony armed his blaster and Harley who had been waiting for him to do that, dove away the instant he fired.
To Tony's shock, the man, blocked his blast with some sort of energy shield that Tony recognized to be one of the many projects Quinn was on. Not only did the shield block the blast, but it deflected it and Tony himself had to move out of the way before it struck him. Shit , thought Tony as he heard an explosion erupt behind him.
Quinn moved like a panther, trained his gun on Harley who moved equally as fast. A shot fired. Harley wasn't fast enough, but he wasn't too slow either. The shot got the kid in the lower leg, but then Harley also managed strike Quinn in the side with something he grabbed hold of when he initially got away from the hostage taker. It was enough of a distraction for three pissed off scientists to at rush at him, not caring the fact the man still had a loaded gun on him. Tony looked to Harley, fearing that he may have been badly hurt but instead was met up with a thumbs up and the mouthing of the words: "Flesh wound".
Tony looked back to Quinn just in time to see him use the shield to block the scientists and to key something on the console behind him. The man gave a satisfied grin to Tony who didn't quite register what the man just did, nor why he did what he did.
"What the hell, Quinn, facility is cleared. Flooding the it now with the gas won't do anything. It's over, you've lost." The grin on the man's face, however, only grew wider and then the realization struck Tony as by instinct he looked to the AC-Lab. It was lockeddown, with Peter and Helen inside. Turning to face the glass pane of the lab, Tony didn't fully understand. Why lock them in? If Quinn released the gas, how would it get in there... unless, unless there was a vent inside the lab. The vent. That was how... God... Peter. Was that how the message had gotten out? Once the realization hit Tony, there was nothing he could do to hide the horror from his face. He watched also as the same realization dawned on those inside the AC-Lab as well. Helen and Peter were both frantically emptying a fridge.
With Quinn was restrained, Tony rushed to the console to which the man had initiated the lockdown to reverse the commands. He had to get them out of there before the gas flooded the lab. Damn it! Nothing was working, only access denied responses. Finally, Tony was able to at least reconnect the network comms and to FRIDAY.
"FRIDAY, tell me you can unlock the AC-Lab."
"Well, try harder!" He ordered the A.I.
"I will try. But Boss, the facility is flooded with the gas. Opening the AC-Lab could potentially flood this lab with the unidentified gas and kill everyone in it."
Tony didn't need to hear the facts he already knew. "The gas hasn't reached the lab yet, has it?"
"No, not yet."
"Then use this time to get it unlocked! Also analyze data of what you can on the gas and find a neutralizing agent."
"Working on it, Boss."
Tony looked through the glass pane, and saw that Peter had put Helen into the fridge and closed it shut. And not a moment later, the gas entered started to file into the lab. Peter, with eyes full of curiosity despite the circumstances, looked in awe of it at it for a moment before he started to cough. No Peter. Tony pounded against the glass, he wanted to break it down. He couldn't.. He couldn't watch this. The fresh faced highschool student turned to look at Tony with no short of determination and... Acceptance. No kid, you are NOT DYING, not on my watch! But Tony knew that was a lie. He couldn't get Peter out, not without killing everyone in the room. Peter would still die either way. But at least he won't be alone . Tony felt sick. No. God no. Peter was coughing, and he'd caught sight of blood in the boy's hand. God damn it! No, this wasn't happening.
"Quinn, stop this, stop it now! Tell me how to neutralize the gas. Tell me!" The scientist simply smiled at Tony's distress. Oh how Tony wanted to just wring the man's throat, but he didn't move. He didn't want to leave Peter's sight. The kid needed him there.
Rhodey spoke through the comm, interrupting Tony's conversation with the scientist, "Tony, are you there, copy"
"Here," said Tony his voice thick
"It looks like Quinn's flooded the facility with a gas. The team's working on a neutralizing agent, so we can't get you out right now. What's the status in there?"
"Rhodey, is Vision with you?"
"No, I .. couldn't find him Tony. The guy just disappeared. No note, nothing."
Shit! Thought Tony. He'd noticed the AI had been steadily distant and distracted since the battle at the airport in Germany. But damn it if it wasn't bad timing for him to disappear right at this critical moment.
"I .. damn it," he slammed his fist against the glass pane of the AC-Lab.
"Tony, what's going on?"
"There's a kid. He's stuck in the AC-Lab, and it's flooded with the gas. I... I can't get him out of there Rhodey."
There was barely a beat before his friend answered, "We're going to get him out of there Tony. I promise you. Hang in there."
Tony looked at Peter. I'm hanging in there, but he's not. He felt utterly sick as he watched the kid sink down against the lab table. "No Peter. You're okay. Just hang in there. Help is coming, okay kid?" The kid had tears in his eyes now. No, don't you dare give in now. Come on, Peter. You're spiderman. You're strong. You have to be stronger. You are stronger.