Tony’s first thought was that he was cold.
Tony Stark hadn’t woken up cold since he dropped a nuke through a wormhole into space. Besides, that particular wake up call had paired nicely with an excruciatingly, painfully loud roar, curtesy of the Hulk.
Tony could only hear silence.
He next had to wonder why exactly he’d woken up cold. He’d wager it had something to do with the concrete floor he’d woken up on- clearly there were no heated floors here, not like in Stark Tower.
Tony’s second thought was that he was not in fact in Stark Tower.
So, why had Tony Stark woken up cold, on a cold floor, in a place that was decidedly not Stark Tower?
Tony’s third thought was that he was not thinking clearly.
He prided himself on being quick on the uptake, more than slightly more intelligent than those around him, and extremely funny and quick witted.
Why exactly was his brain moving slower than Sam Wilson in a race against Steve Rogers?
Deduction- he had been drugged.
Putting those pieces together required slightly less effort. Cold floor, unfamiliar place, drugged Tony Stark.
He had been kidnapped.
Tony Stark’s fourth thought was that he should probably open his eyes.
As he blinked away the dim lights that suddenly assaulted his eyes, he noted that the setup for said kidnapping was not what he had expected.
Then again, he would hardly call himself an expert on kidnapping after one incident involving the ten rings; he probably shouldn’t judge the decor of this place.
Speaking of decor, there was none. He found himself lying on the floor, wrists cuffed behind his back uncomfortably. The walls were plain, with what looked like water damage and possibly another kind of stain that Tony’s drugged mind did not want to think about.
There was exactly one door. It looked as though it was made out of some kind of metal, and there was no handle he could see.
There were no windows, no skylight, no home decorations or even a creepy wall of stalker pictures and a dart board with Tony’s face on.
The room was empty of any personality.
Tony should probably be focusing on what was inside the room, though.
Obviously, there was him. Tony Stark: genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist, worldwide hero and avenger, blah, blah, blah.
There was also two other people.
Tony belatedly realised he probably should’ve thought about them sooner.
They were both sleeping- drugged, he’d bet. One of them was none other than Mr America himself; the star spangled geezer Steve Rogers.
He also had his arms behind him, and was probably bound by something as strong as vibranium, assuming their kidnappers had any intelligence at all.
Then again, if they managed to bypass all of Tony’s security measures and also got the drop on Captain America… well, they couldn’t be stupid.
The other occupant of the room caused Tony to furrow his brow. It was- well, at least it looked a lot like… it looked like a child.
A teenager, his mind supplied. A scrawny little teenage boy, with his little teenage wrists also bound behind him.
Tony didn’t recognise him, why would he? He may be Tony Stark, but he doesn’t exactly like kids. He would never affiliate himself with a child, and Steve Rogers (for all Tony knew) was still a virgin.
So, not Steve’s son. Probably not Tony’s either, but with his playboy days, he could never be sure, no matter how careful he tried to be.
No, this boy was a stranger. A strange child who had managed to get himself kidnapped with two avengers- the first two, nonetheless.
What the hell was he doing here?
What were any of them doing here?
Steve Rogers took that moment to let out a low groan.
“Steve. Hey! Steve.” Tony hissed.
Steve blinked his eyes open, and stared blearily at Tony, his unfocused glaze causing something to clench uncomfortably in Tony’s stomach.
“To- Tony?” Steve said, voice hoarse.
“Yep. Gonna need you to get moving on the whole waking up thing. I know, I know, it’s a drag getting yourself out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, you are not in a bed. Also, we have been kidnapped.” Tony blurted.
Well, that was one way to put it. No point sugar coating.
“Wha- kidnapped? Tony are you-?” Steve tried and failed at sitting up, landing heavily on one elbow and angling himself towards Tony.
“I’m fine, spangles. A tad bit more concerned about our roommate here.”
Tony pointed his head in the direction of the kid.
“You and sleeping beauty over there were here when I woke up. I’m just as in the dark as you, so don’t ask.” Tony said.
“That’s a child.” Steve said.
“Good job, Steve! You win for most observant occupant of the room.”
“Tony this is serious. We are in an undisclosed location without your armour or my shield, and I can’t break these cuffs. We need to get the kid out of here.” Steve glared.
“How exactly do you propose we do that, fearless leader? Like you said, we don’t have our stuff.” Tony fell back against the wall and sighed.
“We’re more than just armour and a shield. All we need is a plan.”
“I’m listening. Tell me this oh so amazing plan of yours.” Tony snarked.
“I-“ Steve began.
“This isn’t monopoly, Rogers. You can’t just roll the dice and hope for a double. There’s no get out of jail free card. In case you forgot, I’ve been in a similar situation to this before.” Tony interrupted.
“I didn’t forget. There’s nothing we can do right now, except wait. We don’t know why we’re here. We should try and find out, and then form a plan. This isn’t just about us, Tony. We can’t afford to lose our heads.” Steve reasoned.
Tony glared at him, but lowered his eyes after Steve’s pointed look in the kid’s direction.
“Fine. You’re right. Satisfied?” Tony asked.
“No. I’ll be satisfied when that kid is home safe.”
“…Yeah. Me too.”
“Is this you admitting you have a heart? Don’t tell me the Tony Stark finally has feelings.” Steve joked.
“Please, that’s just Pepper rubbing off on me. She’d never let me live it down if this kid died. Besides, she got me a plaque. It’s bad luck to disobey plaques.” Tony said, smiling softly.
“Shh.” Steve hissed.
“Did you just shush me? I thought we were having a moment, Rogers. Silly of me to-”
“I think the kid’s waking up.”
“Oh shit.”
“Wha-“
“Do not tell me to ‘watch my language’ Rogers, I swear to god.”
“That was one time. One time, Tony. I was just going to ask what we should tell him.” Steve huffed.
“How the hell should I know? What’s there even to tell? All we know is we’ve been kidnapped, and I’m pretty sure he’s gonna figure that one out on his own.” Tony hissed.
“We should at least try to make sure he stays calm.”
“Calm? Are you calm? I’m not calm. I’m so very far from calm, right now.”
“You’re not helping.” Steve glared.
“I’m sorry, I was unaware I had transformed into an elf overnight. I never filled out the employment information for ‘Santa’s little helper’.”
A muffled groan pierced the air.
Tony and Steve shared a panicked look.
Tony bit the bullet.
“Kid? Are you… alive?” He asked.
Steve shot him a look. Tony shrugged.
“Define alive.” The kid groaned.
“I’d say he’s alive.” Tony said to Steve.
Steve took a deep breath.
“Son, are you okay?” Steve asked.
“Am I dead? Because I’m pretty sure I’m nobody’s son.” The kid mumbled, sleepily.
Tony bit down a laugh. Ahh, orphan jokes.
Oh shit, the kid’s an orphan.
“Wake up, kid. Nap-time’s over. We have a situation.” Tony said.
The kid suddenly stiffened, then shot up into a sitting position. His wide eyes darted around the room, landing on Steve, then Tony, his eyes widening impossibly more when he clocked who they were.
He clenched his eyes shut, and shook his head, before opening them again.
“Hi, I’m Steve Rogers. What’s your name?” Steve asked, kindly.
“I- I know who you are. Who both of you are.” The kid stammered.
“We kind of figured you would. Our introductions are redundant, but polite, so what can you do? The really interesting thing here, kid, is who are you?” Tony asked.
“Tony, stop. You’re going to freak him out.” Steve said.
The kid slumped against the wall, and began breathing heavily.
“Something is very wrong.” He announced.
“Yeah, no shit, kid. You’ve been kidnapped with two avengers. Doesn’t exactly scream average school day to me.” Tony rolled his eyes.
“Tony!” Steve scolded.
“Okay. Um, okay. Kidnapped with Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Okay. Sure, why not? Didn’t think my life could get any crazier, but guess I was wrong. Okay. Okay.” The kid muttered to himself.
“Kid. Your name?” Tony asked.
The kid snapped his eyes up to Tony’s.
“My name is Peter. Peter Parker. What the hell is going on?”
“We wish we knew.” Steve said.
Peter shot a panicked look in Steve’s direction.
“We only woke up a few minutes before you, kid. We’re all in the dark.” Tony said.
“This doesn’t make any sense, though. You two are heroes- internationally known. You have public enemies, and secret ones, too. I’m just some random, totally normal, average kid. Why am I here?” Peter asked.
“We don’t know, son.” Steve said.
“Don’t- please don’t call me son, Captain America, sir.”
“Okay, Peter. I apologise.”
“It’s… fine. You don’t have to apologise. I’m sorry, I’m just really confused.” Peter said.
“That makes two of us.” Tony muttered.
“It’s okay if you’re scared, Peter.” Steve said.
“I’m not scared, Mr Captain America, sir. Just confused. None of this makes sense.”
“Please call me Steve.” Steve said.
“No- no I don’t think so, Mr Rogers. That’s super weird.” Peter said.
“Hah! He called you weird!” Tony snorted.
“No. No! That’s not- I just, sorry, I can’t really look at you without thinking about all the PSA’s.”
Steve went white.
“What is that? Tell me what that is! Steve, what did you do?” Tony leaned in eagerly.
“Peter, do not say another word.” Steve warned.
“Wait, does Mr Stark not know? I feel like one should be playing right now- the ‘so, you got detention’ one would really suit the vibe here.” Peter smiled.
Tony laughed in glee.
“Oh, I can’t wait to get out of here and watch every single one of those.”
“You won’t get the chance, I’m afraid.” A voice echoed.
Tony and Steve exchanged looks. A glance at Peter showed a nervous, but determined look on his face.
Tough kid.
“I thought that would shut you up. I imagine you’re all wondering what you’re doing here.”
The voice had an accent- German, maybe. If they were betting on kidnappers, Tony would put his entire fortune on HYDRA.
“Show yourself. You brought us here, at least don’t be a coward about it.” Steve stood up, facing the door.
“Ahhh, but I am already there, in the room, with you.”
Even in his previously drugged out state, Tony was pretty sure he would’ve noticed another body in the small, plain room.
Or at least the military trained Captain would’ve seen something out of place.
“But I am also out here. And in the rest of the world. I am everywhere, all at once.”
“We can tick god complex off the kit list for up and coming villains.” Tony muttered.
“One cannot have a complex, when one is already a god. I may not have a physical form in the way you three do, but regardless, I am in a way much more powerful as a result.” The voice continued.
“Enough with the games. Tell us who you are.” Steve growled.
“My name is Arnim Zola.”
“Impossible. You were in HYDRA back in the fourties. You can’t still be alive.” Steve said.
“Ironic that the super soldier out of time judges me on what is and what didn’t possible. I am the smartest mind that has ever graced planet earth. My consciousness was uploaded into a computer, and from there, the internet. I have been very busy all these years, looking where I should not look, hacking into private files, finding undisclosed locations and destroying complex security measures. I am all powerful.”
“So what do you want from us? If you’re all powerful, and you’ve already done all this stuff, why interrupt your winning streak by doing something so ungodlike and kidnapping two avengers and a kid? What do you get out of this?” Tony asked.
“I have everything, yes. But there is one more thing I require. One more thing I yearn for. A body.”
“That’s not creepy. Doesn’t explain why we’re here though.” Tony said.
“Imagine it. Arnim Zola, the greatest mind on earth, in the body of a super soldier. The serum that runs through your veins, Steve Rogers, must run through mine, too, if I am to continue being all powerful. I must upload my mind into a body of power.”
“You wanna jump Steve’s bones, huh?”
“Do not be ridiculous. The transfer requires a mind that would be able to withstand my own, or the body would crumble. A mind worthy of my genius.”
“A mind like Tony’s?” Steve asked.
“Wait, you wanna jump my bones? We were talking about Steve not two seconds ago, let’s go back to that.” Tony said, ignoring Steve’s glare.
“If you are quite finished interrupting me, I will continue. I require a strong body and a genius mind, yes. But it is also in my greatest interests to inhabit a more youthful body, so I can live inside it for many years to come. Neither of you fit that description.”
“Did he just call me old? I mean, Cap, you are over a hundred years old, I respect that. But I am not old!” Tony gasped.
“Tony.” Steve said solemnly, nodding in Peter’s direction.
Peter steeled himself.
“That’s why I’m here, isn’t it? Why we’re all here?” He said.
“The boy seems to have figured out your roles. I knew I picked the right child.” The voice said.
“Peter. Talk to us.”
Peter took a breath.
“Mr Rogers is here because his blood carry’s the super soldier serum. Mr Stark, you’re here because your father created the serum, and as much as Zola likes to brag, I’m gonna bet he hasn’t been able to recreate it. He thinks you can. That’s why I’m here.”
“Because he’s gonna make us create a serum for you. And then he’s gonna take your body.” Tony breathed.
“That’s not going to happen.” Steve said.
“We shall see. I have ways of making you comply.” Zola warned.
A click sounded, signalling Zola’s departure.
“At least we know why we’re here?” Peter said, weakly.
“You’re going to be okay, kid. We won’t let him take your body.” Steve reassured.
“You can’t promise that.” Peter countered.
“We can promise to try.”
Peter smiled at Steve, but Tony saw the doubt in his expression. Even the kid knew they had no cards to play.
“So, you’re a genius, huh?” Tony asked.
“Um- uhh- what?” Peter startled.
“Zola. He said he needs someone whose mind has the capacity to hold his. He said he needs a genius. That’s you.” Tony explained.
“I mean… I’m smart? I guess? I go to a really good school.”
“Oh god, and you’re modest, too.” Tony sighed.
“Not the time, Tony.” Steve admonished.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Steve. Shall we just sit here in silence and wait for our impending doom? Oh! Or, we could play a guessing game on which torture devices they’re gonna use on us so we ‘comply’. It’s up to you.”
“I’m betting water or electricity. Maybe even isolation or sensory deprivation methods.” Peter spoke up.
Steve and Tony blinked in tandem.
“Kid’s got a sick sense of humour. I like it.” Tony said.
“Why did you guess those things?” Steve asked.
“They can’t do anything to us that will have long lasting damage. They need Mr Rogers’ blood and I’m betting a whole bunch of other DNA samples. They can’t render Mr Stark’s brain or body too damaged or he can’t work on the serum. And I doubt Zola’s gonna permanently damage his future home, so…” Peter trailer off.
“I mean, he’s not wrong.” Tony stated.
Peter shrugged with a small smile.
“You’re handling this very well, Peter.” Steve said, eyeing him strangely.
Peter let out a strangled laugh.
“Well! I mean, I- I don’t, I feel like… is there a textbook way to handle something like this? Pass me the manual and I’ll flick through it. Maybe I’ll come up with an appropriate response to being kidnapped by HYDRA with two avengers and a madman trying to steal my body!” Peter rambled.
“You can’t argue with that.” Tony said.
Steve squinted at Peter. “He’s like a mini Stark.”
Tony noticed Peter tense up slightly, before the door banged open.
About six HYDRA agents filled the doorway. They pointed at Steve.
“Steve Rogers. You are required. Come quietly.” One of them ordered.
“Or what?” Steve challenged.
“Stark does not need his legs to work.” The agent pointed his weapon at Tony’s left leg, carelessly outstretched in front of him.
“There goes that theory.” Peter blew out a breath.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming.”
Tony watched at Steve followed them out the door, watched as he disappeared from view, and watched as the door slammed shut, as if it had never been opened in the first place.
He just watched.
——————
Peter felt useless. He felt completely and utterly useless. Also helpless. He was feeling rather helpless as well.
It was not a nice feeling.
The weird German computer guy wanted to steal his body, and oh, also, he wanted to inject him with a super soldier serum.
Yeah, the one that had never been successfully recreated.
A little trip down memory lane provides the latest attempt, done by the one and only Dr Bruce Banner, one of the smartest people in the world. He turned into a big green rage monster called the Hulk.
Peter may be alone in thinking this, but one Hulk is definitely enough. Also, finishing school might be hard if he turns into a fit of green anger every time he gets a bad grade.
Let’s not even mention the fact that Peter won’t actually be able to finish school, because an evil supervillain wants to inhabit his body as his own.
Peter always thought the weird side of his life would be to do with his Spider-Man persona. But Zola didn’t even know he was Spider-Man. This was just good old fashioned Parker luck. It had been a hat toss. Luck of the draw. Unfortunate circumstances. Peter had happened to be chosen as the prime candidate for body snatching.
Just great.
It would’ve been even better if Zola hadn’t taken precautionary measures. All three of them, even Mr Stark, had been fitted with cuffs made of metal too strong for Peter to break.
Peter didn’t know if it was good or bad luck that he hadn’t been wearing his web shooters when he was taken.
He had absolutely no idea what would happen if the super soldier serum was mixed with his radioactive spider blood, and he didn’t want to find out.
They were in a very sticky situation.
Being trapped with his idols was bad enough, but god knows where Mr Rogers had been taken, and for what.
Mr Stark looked like he was one breath away from a panic attack. Unsurprising, considering his history with being kidnapped.
Maybe Peter shouldn’t have been so fatalistic in listing torture methods.
The one thing he was absolutely one hundred per cent sure of, was that no one, not even Mr Stark or Mr Rogers, could find out he was Spider-Man.
Yes, it may be beneficial for them to know, but Peter couldn’t be sure if and when Zola was watching and listening. There was no foolproof way to discretely signal to the two avengers that hey, he actually has powers and could help fight if if came to it.
Zola would move up his timetable if he knew that Peter already had a powerful body. That would leave no time for possible rescue.
Assuming the avengers were coming, that is.
“Kid? I’m not good with the whole… comforting thing. Not like Steve. But, we’re probably gonna be okay. We usually are.” Tony said.
“That’s okay, Mr Stark. Mr Rogers is actually super patronising. I appreciate a more direct approach, anyway.” Peter smiled.
“Good to know. You’re a brave one, huh? Don’t go playing hero, kid. Let us deal with that if it comes to it.” Tony said.
“Yes. Absolutely, Mr Stark. Trust me, I’m no hero.” Peter said, hurriedly.
“Okay then. Good.”
“Yeah. Good.”
“Great, even.”
“Wonderful.”
“Brilliant.”
“Fantastic.”
“We gonna go through the whole dictionary?” Tony said.
“I can do this all day.” Peter replied, with a smirk.
“Oh, don’t you start.”
Peter laughed.
“So… what’s your favourite subject in school?” Tony asked, hesitantly.
“Seriously?” Peter raised an eyebrow.
“Humour me.”
“You don’t know anything about kids, do you?”
“Not one bit.”
“Oh. It’s not obvious.” Peter looked at him innocently.
“Really?”
“No. It’s totally obvious.”
“You know, you look like a cherub, but you act like a demon.” Tony snarked.
“I didn’t know you were religious.”
“I’m not.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah.”
“Cool.”
“Are you bored?” Tony asked.
“I’m so bored. This is boring. Is this the torture? Has it started already?”
“My company that bad, huh?”
“What do you want to talk about, the weather? How’s the room today? Oh, slightly humid, but mostly cold because of the freezing floor which is making my butt numb as we speak. Is it cloudy, is it rainy, is it sunny? I don’t know, we’re locked in a box! But yeah, let’s go through the list of conversation starters. Maybe we can just skip out the weather and go straight onto what are your plans for tomorrow? Oh, you’re trapped in a room too? What a coincidence! Any travel plans? Well, I don’t know about you, but some supervillain’s gonna take my body for a walk, so who knows where we’ll end up!” Peter blurted out.
“You finished?”
“Probably not. I can keep going.”
“Please don’t. For the love of god, the silence was better. Leave the torture to the bad guys, okay?”
“Rude.” Peter pouted.
They sat in silence for a while, neither knowing what to say in the situation.
“How do we defeat a guy with no body?” Peter asked, finally.
“I don’t know, kid. But he’s just a computer right now, and luckily for all of us, those happen to be my expertise. We’ll figure something out.” Tony promised.
“If you say so.”
“I do say so. I’m Iron Man, after all.”
“You don’t have your armour, though.” Peter pointed out.
“It’s just a suit. If you’re nothing without the suit, then you shouldn’t have it.” Tony stated.
“Yeah. That makes sense.” Peter said sarcastically.
Peter felt the hairs stand up on the back of his neck; something was coming.
He also noted Mr Stark watching him strangely. Had his spider sense been too obvious?
The door once again crashed open, and Captain America was dragged in, looking exhausted. The HYDRA agents didn’t stick around, and left as soon as they threw the Captain on the floor.
He didn’t move.
“What’s wrong with him?” Peter asked, worry dripping in his voice.
“I don’t know. Steve! Wake up time, you old fart.” Tony yelled.
“Gimme a minute. And quit yelling.” Steve mumbled.
“What did they do?” Peter asked.
“Blood. Gone. Too much.” Steve managed.
“Jesus.” Tony mentally ran a hand over his face.
“How much blood did they take?” Peter exclaimed.
“They left enough so that I wouldn’t die. So, that’s good.” Steve slowly brought himself into a sitting position, and leant his head against the wall.
“You will have satisfactory amounts of blood to make a serum, Tony Stark. Once I have procured all I require, you will begin.” Zola said, his mechanical voice echoing through the speakers.
“What else do you need from him? He’s got nothing more to give!” Tony yelled.
“What I require is nothing to do with Steve Rogers. Tests must be performed on my host, to ensure no complications and optimum compatibility.” Zola stated.
Peter felt sick. If they took his blood, they would discover the radiation there from the spider bite. They would figure out he’s Spider-Man.
“You brought all of us here, went through all this trouble, and you don’t even know if you actually want my body? Seems to me like you’re doubting your own plan. Maybe you’re not as smart as you think you are.” Peter spoke up.
“Peter. Shhhh. Don’t- don’t aggravate him.” Steve slurred.
“My plan is flawless, you incompetent child. You dare question the genius of Arnim Zola?”
“Yeah. Yeah, actually, I do dare. Clearly you don’t think I’m right for your whole body snatching scheme, otherwise all your tests would be redundant. You’re doubting yourself.” Peter said, hoping and praying Zola would take the bait.
“You are no scientist, child. Is it not prudent for an experiment to be properly conducted? Is it not wise to perform tests to ensure the desired result? I am no fool, and you will not get out of this so easily. You cannot manipulate me, child.” Zola hissed.
Peter sighed, and slumped his head back against the wall in defeat.
“It was a good try, kid.” Tony said, finally catching on to what Peter was trying to do.
“Oh. I get it now.” Steve announced, head lolling.
The hairs suddenly stood straight up on Peter’s neck. He tensed, his danger sense going haywire.
“Oh no.” He said.
“We are finished preparing for you, Mr Parker.” Zola said.
Peter was practically vibrating with suspense.
“Kid, you need to calm down. You look like you’re gonna pop.” Tony said.
“Something’s wrong. Really wrong.” Peter managed.
“Obviously. We’ve been kidnapped and you’re gonna be experimented on. But you know you’ll be okay, you said so yourself. Zola needs you.” Tony rolled his eyes.
“No. It’s not, something is gonna go wrong. They’re gonna… oh no.” Peter muttered, mostly to himself.
His danger sense shouldn’t be this bad for a few minor tests. Peter knew what was going to happen. This was a warning; Zola was about to figure out he was Spider-Man.
The door crashed open. Peter stood up.
“Come quietly.” The agent demanded.
Peter weighed his options. Yes, he could fight, but he was the only one capable of doing so, and his hands were tied behind his back.
Steve was fully out of commission, and Peter couldn’t carry him and fight at the same time.
Tony didn’t have his armour, and even if he managed to get one of the guns strapped to the HYDRA agents, he couldn’t shoot it with his hands bound.
Peter was out of options, and he was out of time.
A gunshot rang out.
Someone screamed. It might have been him. After all, the searing pain in his thigh was enough to make him drop to his knees.
“You bastards! He’s just a kid!” Tony yelled.
Steve looked murderous, Tony was yelling at the top of his lungs.
Peter’s senses were overwhelmed. Everything felt dulled, for just a moment. He could see Tony yelling, but he couldn’t hear it. He knew he had been shot, but he couldn’t feel it. His eyes blurred in and out of focus, his senses fighting the onslaught of sounds and pain.
Then, everything crashed into focus.
“I thought you needed his body! Why are you hurting him?” Tony was still yelling.
“The body will heal. Think of this as more incentive to complete the serum. Once the super soldier healing factor kicks in, the child will be fine.” Zola said.
Peter cried out as hands gripped his upper arms, biting back a scream as he was dragged painfully out of the room, his thigh throbbing and protesting with every movement.
He was led into a dark hallway, lit up by green lights, which really upped the murder vibe, if you ask Peter.
He was taken into a separate room, holding only a metal table and some medical equipment placed on a smaller table.
He gasped as he was wrestled onto the table, and cried out when a strap was placed over his bad thigh. His arms were still bound behind him, digging uncomfortably into the small of his back as his chest was pressed down and strapped to the table.
He was completely immobilised.
“Begin.” Zola’s voice instructed.
A needle was inserted into his arm, and they collected a vile of his blood.
“Haven’t I already bled enough?” Peter gritted out.
“Silence.” Zola demanded, his voice frighteningly quiet.
Peter lost sight of the agents, and yelled in pain when they removed a fingernail with a pair of pliers. Blood dripped onto the floor, droplets falling in tandem with Peter’s heart, which was pounding loudly in his head.
A knife entered his hip, where his shirt had ridden up, and cut a small square of skin away from him.
He couldn’t help but scream at that part.
Hair was ripped from his head, sweat was swabbed and collected, his mouth was forced open as they extracted his saliva.
“Sir. We have removed all that you required.” An agents announced.
“Good. Take him back to the others.” Zola said.
Peter was unstrapped and forced to his feet, every inch of his body protesting. He collapsed against the unwelcome hands and was dragged from the room once more.
He was pushed roughly to the floor when they returned to his original room, and he heard Tony yell out on protest.
“Peter! Pete, buddy, talk to me, are you okay?” Tony asked.
“Oh, I’m just peachy.” Peter snapped, manoeuvring himself onto his side, and then slowly dragging himself to his wall.
“What did they do?” Steve asked.
“Oh, don’t you seem more lucid now? Would’ve been helpful before I got shot and dragged to a freaking torture chamber.” Peter glared, but it fell short.
The two heroes wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Look, I’m sorry. I’m just a bit overwhelmed. It’s not your fault.” Peter apologised.
“We should’ve done more. You didn’t ask for any of this, kid.” Tony said.
“Neither did you.” Peter replied.
“It’s more of an occupational hazard, when you’re an avenger. You make enemies. You’re just some kid. You don’t deserve this.” Tony insisted.
“Neither do you.” Peter repeated, firmly.
“Thanks, Peter.” Steve smiled.
“Okay, great! None of us deserve the wonderful experience of kidnapping and torture. That doesn’t help us get out of here, though.” Tony said.
“It won’t matter.” Peter mumbled.
Steve looked at him in alarm.
“What do you mean? We still have time.” Steve reassured him.
“Not as much as you think.” Peter shook his head.
“Kid, they still need me to make the serum for you. I can stall, and the avengers will come save us. We got this.” Tony said.
“No. We have no time left. I’m sorry.” Peter wouldn’t meet their eyes.
Zola would know, soon enough, that he was Spider-Man. That he already had a body that was just as powerful as a super soldier, if not more. Their time had run out.
“Kid. You gotta explain. What are you talking about?” Tony asked.
“Don’t give up yet. You’re strong, Peter. No ordinary kid would be able to survive all of this and not freak out. I know you can still hold out. You’ve proven your bravery, don’t lose sight of that.” Steve insisted.
“You don’t understand.” Peter tried.
“Help us understand.” Steve replied.
“The problem isn’t me believing I’m strong. I know I am. The problem is, Zola is about to know, too.” Peter said.
“What does that even mean? Can we stop talking in riddles, please?” Tony said, exasperated.
“Not yet. It’s like you said, Steve. I’ll hold out for as long as I can.” Peter said.
“I don’t understand.” Steve admitted.
“You will.” Peter stated, miserably.
Tony glanced at Steve, both of them at a loss. Peter felt bad about worrying them, and keeping them in the dark. But he had no choice. He had to make sure it took Zola a longer time to figure out who he was. He had to stall, for as long as he could.
In the end, Peter wasn’t sure he would be getting out of this. If any of them would.
“You’ve been lying to me.” Zola’s voice rang out.
No. He couldn’t have figured it out already. It was too soon.
“Did you think you could keep this from me, boy? This changes everything.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Peter bluffed.
“Your blood. It is… interesting. It seems I no longer have a use for either of your companions. What luck, that the child I chose, already came equipped with all I require? It seems fate is on my side.” Zola said, gleefully.
“What do you mean you don’t need us?” Steve asked.
“What about the serum? You need us for that!” Tony yelled.
“The child requires no serum. The child is already enhanced. He is ready.”
Peter fought back tears.
“What- what does that mean? Peter? What is he talking about?” Tony asked.
“I- I’m sorry. I couldn’t tell you. He couldn’t know.” He cried.
“The child has strength, speed, agility. He has enhanced senses, enhanced healing. He has all I require and more. He is perfect.” Zola said.
“You’re enhanced? How?” Steve asked.
Peter shook his head, biting his lip to hold back his sobs.
“The transfer will begin momentarily.” Zola said.
It couldn’t end like this. Peter didn’t want some German nazi scientist inhabiting his body. He wanted, he wanted to finish school, see his friends, see May.
He wanted to watch the new Star Wars films, build more Lego with Ned, ask MJ out on a date.
He wanted his own life. He wouldn’t let anyone take it from him.
The door opened and a tv rolled in. A face occupied the screen.
“Zola.” Peter snarled.
“Now, hold on, wait! You can’t do this!” Tony yelled, being restrained by two agents.
Steve was similarly held back, and Peter watched Zola come to a stop in front of him, the flickering light from the tv casting an ominous spotlight onto him.
“Prepare him.” The tv spoke statically.
Two agents came forth, with a device that Peter assumed went on his head, for the mind transfer.
He contorted his body into a defensive position, and when the agents came close, he pounced.
He kicked out the legs of the closest agent, then shoulder slammed the one after.
There was a tangle of limbs as Peter kicked at a third agent, who knocked him to the floor, where Peter painfully banged his head.
Left dazed, he blindly kicked out and sent the agent hurtling across the room, before jumping and crouching on the ceiling.
“Get him down!” Zola screamed.
Peter ran across the ceiling as bullets rained on him, narrowly avoiding the tiny metal things.
Zola screamed about not killing him, and Peter’s thoughts were running wild. What was the plan here? He couldn’t escape, he couldn’t help Steve or Tony.
All he was doing was avoiding the unavoidable. There was no hope.
The memory of Uncle Ben tutted at that.
‘With great power comes great responsibility’ his mind whispered.
Peter slammed into the floor as volts of electricity violently disrupted his thoughts.
He blacked out as his head came in contact with the cold floor one too many times. When he came to, he was on his knees, facing Arnim Zola, a suffocating device strapped to his head.
“Stop! Stop this! Leave him alone!” Tony yelled.
“You’ll pay for this, Zola!” Steve rivalled Tony’s volume.
“Dispose of them.” Zola commanded.
“No.” Peter struggled weakly.
Agents marched towards the two avengers, but Peter was stuck, trapped, as the device was turned on.
Blue lights poured between Peter and Zola, and Peter couldn’t look away. He couldn’t move, but he felt as though he were being dragged forward, as if the life was being sucked out of him and into the TV.
Oh god. Transfer.
Peter hadn’t even realised. Zola said transfer. Yes, Zola would inhabit Peter’s body, which was all kinds of messed up, but Peter would go into the computer, he would be the face in the TV.
This couldn’t be happening.
Peter felt himself fading, and took one more glance in Steve and Tony’s direction. They were pressed up against the wall, guns pointed in their direction.
They looked terrified. Scared for Peter. Scared for a world without two avengers and an all powerful supervillain in the body of a superhero.
They looked how Peter felt. Helpless.
Peter was losing consciousness. The edges of his vision were beginning to blacken.
Just as he was about to pass out, everything stopped.
Or did it all begin?
In the blink of an eye, Zola’s tv was destroyed, and in its place, stood a raging Hulk, breathing heavily.
“Hulk smash tv face.” He growled.
Peter collapsed as if his strings had been cut. He watched, face pressed against the cold floor, as the avengers stormed in and took out the remaining HYDRA agents.
He saw War Machine cut through Steve and Tony’s restraints with a laser beam. He saw the White Wolf hand Steve his shield. He looked, as the watch that Black Widow passed to Tony, melted into a suit of armour.
Peter watched, as Tony and Steve ran over to him, and knelt at his side.
“Peter? Kid? You in there?” Tony asked, frantically.
“Rhodey, cut through those cuffs.” Steve commanded.
Peter felt his arms return to his sides, the pain of being put back into the correct position feeling dull.
He was moved into a sitting position, and Tony was shaking him gently.
“Please tell me you’re still the kid.” He said, frantically.
Peter couldn’t speak. He squinted in Tony’s direction.
“He’s out of it. We’ve gotta get him back to the jet.” Steve said.
“We don’t even know if he’s still in there! It could be Zola. We might be too late.” Tony hissed.
“There’s no time. More agents incoming. This is primarily a rescue mission, we’re not equipped to take down an entire HYDRA base.” Black Widow said.
Peter’s head lulled back as he was lifted into Steve’s arms.
“Let’s go.”
The ride back to Avengers Tower was a short one. Or, at least, it felt like it to Peter. He was losing time, probably due to panicking. He had yet to regain any control over his limbs, and the only thing he was capable of doing was blinking.
Being trapped inside his own body was terrifying. At least Zola didn’t seem to be ride sharing. Small mercies.
Despite fading in and out of consciousness, (on account of severe hyperventilating) Peter caught snippets of conversation from the avengers.
There was Hawkeye asking what the hell a kid was doing there, Dr Banner insisting that he wasn’t a medical doctor, Black Widow demanding to know what was done to him.
There was Steve explaining what Zola wanted. There was Tony revealing that Peter was in fact Spider-Man.
Cue the onslaught of protests and yells that Spider-Man was a ‘child’.
Peter really wished he could talk.
By the time he was placed in the medbay of Avengers Tower, Peter could’ve sworn he could twitch his fingers and his toes.
“Kid, I don’t know if you can hear me. Your eyes are open, so I’ll take it as a good sign.” Tony was sat at his bedside.
“I know we only really got to know each other in captivity, and you caught on pretty quick that I’m not exactly good with kids. I’m not even what you would class as a ‘people person’. I just… I hope you’re still in there, Peter. We got a pro coming in to fix you up, get you back on your feet. You’ll be swinging around stopping bicycle thieves in no time.” Tony continued.
Peter blinked slowly in at him, hoping it would convey to Tony that he could actually hear him.
“This guys a real piece of work, I hear. He’s all witchy woo wizard type, with an ego to top mine. He’ll be here any second. Just hang in there.”
Peter was really hoping this wizard guy could help. As much as he’d convinced himself he could, Peter was pretty sure his fingers and toes were not moving.
Captain America entered the medbay.
“He’s here.”
“Bring him in then, capsicle. Times-a-wasting.” Tony said.
Peter silently watched as a man dressed in robes and a literal cape walked into the room.
“This is the boy?” The man asked Tony.
“This is Peter.” Tony replied with a glare.
The wizard raised his eyebrows, then walked over to Peter.
“Hello, Mr Parker. My name is Dr Stephen Strange. I will do what I can to help you.”
“He’s gonna use magic to fix you.” Tony piped up.
“It’s not magic. It’s the mystic arts.” Dr Strange sighed.
He placed his hands above Peter’s body and closed his eyes.
“His mind is his own. It’s just disconnected from his body temporarily, as though it were planning to go somewhere else.” He announced.
“Well, can you reconnect it?” Tony pressed.
“It is a relatively simple matter, yes.” Dr Strange said.
He placed his fingers on either side of Peter’s head and began murmuring under his breath.
“What the hell are you doing?” Tony demanded.
Peter felt his body tense up, could feel tingling sensations like pins and needles running through his veins. He clenched his eyes tight and arched off the bed.
It felt like every single cell in his body was waking up. It was a very strange feeling.
Heh, Strange.
The wizard released his head, and Peter fell back, breathing heavily.
“Pete? Peter? Are you okay, now?” Tony asked.
Blinking furiously, Peter raised his eyes to meet Tony’s.
“I-I’m okay. I think.” It felt weird to use his voice.
“Oh, thank god.” Steve said, collapsing into a chair.
“You’re welcome.” Dr Strange said, dryly.
“You’re all good? No evil tv man sitting in that brain of yours?” Tony asked.
“No. No he never got there. It’s just me. God, it was so weird not being able to move.” Peter sighed, pushing himself into a sitting position.
“You mean you were awake the whole time? That must’ve been scary.” Steve said.
“Well, it was no picnic.” Peter smiled.
“You’re such a weird little guy.” Tony chuckled.
“When can I go home? For a while there, I didn’t think I’d be able to.” Peter asked.
“Give Helen a chance to look you over. We still need to patch you up, healing factor or not.” Tony said, gesturing to a doctor at the door.
“Oh, right, I was shot.” Peter remembered.
“Yeah. Let’s take care of that. Good idea. Then, we’ll talk about this whole Spider-Man business, yeah?” Tony eyed him.
“Ha ha ha. Yeah. Cant wait.” Peter said, nervously.
“But kid, seriously, I’m glad you’re okay.” Tony said from the door.
“Thanks. You too.” Peter smiled.
“You know something, kid? I have a feeling that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.” Tony said.
And what was Peter gonna do? Argue with Tony Stark?
No. Instead, he smiled.
“Yeah. You’re right.”
“Always am, kid.”