The Lake House
“Should I just adjust the motor then?” Peter asked as he and Tony stared at a robotic spider that was speeding around the lab table before Tony grabbed a cup and put it on top of a metal arachnid. It was red and blue, roughly the size of a tarantula, and appeared to stare woefully at Peter through the clear plastic cup.
“I dunno if it’s the motor kid. It might be the programming.” Tony said as he tapped the side of the cup and the spider skidded back hitting the other side of the cup. Peter crouched to eye level with the robotic spider before groaning and lightly hitting his head against the table. Tony smiled at him softly before sympathetically ruffling his hair.
“It’ll be alright Spiderman, just go back through and rewrite a few things. “ Tony said as he lifted the cup and tapped the spiders back three times for it to turn off. “ It’s a cool design kid.”
“I know but I suck at coding. Ned’s the one that is all computer geeky…” Peter said while making animated gestures. Tony quirked an eyebrow.
“Then I guess I have a few things to teach you.” Tony said as he began to pack up the wrenches and bolts that littered the table.<
They were in Tony’s second garage turned into a state-of-the-art lab with his Iron Man suits lining one wall and the others filled with boxes that remained yet unorganized since he moved to the lake house four and a half years ago. AC/DC played in the background since it was hard to listen to the news anymore. It had been three weeks since half the population was snapped back, and three weeks since Captain Marvel had grabbed the gauntlet and snapped Thanos and his army away. She survived miraculously due to her powers Tony still had little understanding of and she now had a metal arm making her possibly the coolest person in the galaxy. As happy as people were to have their loved one’s back it was chaotic with food shortages and government emergencies that the Avengers couldn't just magically solve. With rumors of governmental insurrection in places in the Middle East, whatever messy riots in Europe over boarders being redrawn, and the constant reminder of the mess in their own home country through the stupid ads that played on every radio, tv, and Spotify station reminding him that no matter how much money he throws into trying to supply food and help out with immigrants there’s not enough. Tony just couldn’t-
“Mr. Stark?” Tony snapped back to reality and realized he had been staring at a wrench for the past two minutes as Peter stared back in concern. That was the other thing
Tony still couldn’t comprehend was how the kid was so… so alive. His messy brown curls, the sunburn across the bridge of his nose, the MIT hoodie Tony lent him since most of his clothes were donated during the blip being comically big on him, and the way his brown eyes expressed all his emotions with such intensity. Tony could never fully explain how much he had just-just missed him.
“For the last time the kid called me Tony.” the man muttered as he handed Peter the wrench and watched him place it back in between two unpacked boxes labeled ‘ Saws’ in sloppy handwriting.
“Are you okay Mr. Stark- I mean Tony? You seemed off…” Peter said as he bounded back to the table where Tony was still staring at him.
“Yeah kid I’m fine I was just thinking about how if we don’t get back to the house soon Pep is gonna kill me.” Tony said and smirked at Peter as he shut off the lights and led them towards the lake house. Peter and his Aunt May had been staying with him in the guest bedrooms since both him and his aunt had been blipped away and when they returned people were living in their apartment. Tony wasn’t ashamed to admit he liked the kid being so close by. He had missed him so much during those painful five years and even though he had Morgan he had never stopped feeling guilty. Guilty for having a kid when Peter was dead and essentially giving up. Guilty for taking Peter to space- even if it was an accident. Guilty for-
“Tony!” Peter exclaimed as Tony realized he had almost stepped on Morgan's mud hill she was trying to use to make an ant farm. Peter grabbed his arm cautiously, looking at him with concern. Damn it was going to be hard to have Peter leave tomorrow. His Aunt had found an apartment, a new job at a newly opened hospital and school restarted soon. Tony grabbed Peter’s shoulder and led him inside where Morgan was sitting at the table showing May a drawing of a flower she had made while Pepper grabbed a pizza box and set it on the table.
“Need help Ms. Potts?” Peter asked as Pepper started walking back to the kitchen.
“No, not right now. But thank you Peter.” Pepper said smiling as Morgan ran over and jumped up to Tony who immediately picked her up. Seeing Tony as a dad was something Peter never thought would happen but at the same time, he wasn’t surprised. Whether or not Tony would admit it he had acted fatherly towards Peter before he had Morgan, even one time giving Peter a sack lunch after spending a weekend at the compound. Morgan giggled as Tony whispered in her ear something obviously hilarious to the three-and-a-half-year-old whose giggles became full of high-pitched laughs.
“Now whatever trouble you two are getting into can wait it’s supper time.” Pepper said with an amused tone as Tony set Morgan down with a kiss on the cheek before pulling out two chairs and motioning for Peter to sit down next to him. Morgan jumped into a chair by Pepper as her pink princess dress got caught on the chair. May grabbed two pieces of cheese pizza and smiled at Peter. She looked tired with her brown hair laced with gray strands pulled into a messy bun and her green tank top and floral skirt covered in what appeared to be a mix of glitter, dust, and dirt. Peter felt a bit guilty about leaving May to do all the packing, but she insisted he spend the last day with Tony and Peter couldn’t complain.
“I just have to thank you again for letting us crash with you for three weeks.” May finally said, breaking the silence as Pepper cut a piece of pizza into smaller bites for Morgan.
“Oh, it’s really no problem-” Tony said with a genuine smile “- it's been nice having people over who aren’t Happy and Rhodey. Happy can get a bit tiring with his endless clean freak charade.”
“Yes, I can imagine.” May said smiling.
“Did Pete show you his- what is it called a robotic spider?” Tony gestured to Peter with a smirk.
“It’s called a Spider pal. And yeah, I guess I could show you later in May. I dunno though the coding's all off-” Peter babbled with Tony staring at him with smiling eyes the entire time.
“The kid’s being modest. It’s amazing and I’ll teach you how to fix up the coding a bit and you will be good to go in no time.” Tony interrupted putting his arm on the back of Peter’s chair and taking a huge bite of pizza. Pepper smiled at Peter.
“That’s really cool honey.” May said as she wiped her mouth with a napkin.
“Thanks May.” Peter muttered as he turned bright red with mild embarrassment that everyone was so interested in his little project.
“Oh Tony by the way Rhodey stopped by while you were in the lab with Peter…” Pepper said as the rest of dinner was filled with a conversation between May, Pepper, and Tony about some military controversy in some country Peter couldn’t figure out, and with Morgan giggling as Peter spit his tongue out at her at various moments throughout dinner. Once dinner was finished everyone moved to the living room, with Tony picking up Morgan from her seat and giving her a bath, and Peter sitting in the living room while May and Pepper talked about May’s new setup in Queen’s. Peter would be lying if he said he wasn’t nervous to go back home, as much as he missed Ned and MJ he knew everything was different now. He had missed five years in what felt like a two minute nap. It hadn’t really hit him about how long he was gone until the night after the final battle where Peter and Tony were sitting on the couch uncharacteristically quiet.
“Happy found May.” Tony said after texting back Happy who went to go find the kid’s aunt in Queens.
“Good.” Peter said, feeling a surge of panic thinking about the state of the world right now. Half the world just all of a sudden back…
“So, it’s uh really been five years?” Peter asked for the fifth time as he felt his heart speed up. Tony gave him a pained look from the otherside of the couch.
“Yeah.” Tony said finally.
“And-and you had a kid?” Peter said in disbelief still even though he had met Morgan, who’s eyes and attitude were a spitting version of Tony.
“Yeah.” Tony said quietly. It was silent for a few more minutes. It was hard to imagine five years had passed, that’s along time. If had been alive he would have graduated high school, would be in college right now… instead he was still seventeen. Tony had aged though, his hair had flecks of gray and face seemed softer, like he had finally broke down a part of the wall he always kept up.
“You know they tried to reboot Star Trek while you were gone…” Tony snorted. “ It sucked. When I watched it, I kept thinking of how annoyed you would have been.”
The sentence was light, but Peter could tell it had been more than that. Weirdly it felt good to be missed, to know he was as important to Tony as Tony was to him. But it also hurt. He wanted to grow up, not sink to dust and feel his body fade away. Sometimes when he took a breath to quick, or tripped slightly on a root of a tree, he felt it again. The fear gripped him and…
“Kid.” Tony’s voice cut through his thoughts. Peter then realized he had been gripping the edge of the couch hard and released, avoiding eye contact. He felt Tony get up.
‘“Here.” he held out a hand and Peter hesitantly took it. “I think you need what Morguna likes to call a ‘bear hug.’”
“Everybody calls it that.” Peter snorted as Tony wrapped him tightly in an embrace, and he released into it. It was good, grounding.
“I think it’s ridiculous. Bears don’t hug.” Tony released and stared into Peter’s eyes. “ I hope you know it’ll be alright kid. I promise.”
“ARGH!!! Tony your kid and her ants-”
“Peter?” May’s voice overrode Happy’s grumbling as he shook mud off of his boot. Peter quickly bolted to the kitchen to find his aunt; arms open. He quickly accepted the hug.
“Happy, what did I say about mud in the house-”
“Mind if I sit here kid?” Tony said, interrupting Peter’s train of thought and motioning to the end of the couch right next to Peter’s spot. Peter nodded and Tony sat down putting his arm on the back of the couch causing Peter to be leaning against Tony’s chest slightly.
"Well, I am very happy that you and Peter can start getting back to whatever normal is now.” Pepper said getting up and May smiled before yawning loudly.
“Thank you, Pepper. Honestly, I’m very tired so I might head to bed.” May said getting up and stretching her arms up. “ Don’t stay up too long Peter, we have a big day tomorrow.”
“May…” Peter protested as she motioned to Tony to make sure he went to bed at a reasonable time. Whatever, Peter thought; he wasn’t even tired, it was barely nine o’clock. Tony nodded and winked at Peter who now realized he was leaning his whole body into Tony’s side.
“Wanna watch a movie? Let’s see what’s on…” Tony said, turning on the TV and flipping through the channels before deciding on some new movie Peter had never seen. Pepper, who had been gathering coffee mugs, told Tony she was going to check on Morgan since it was storming out and set out to the kitchen before quiet thumps indicated she had headed upstairs. A loud crack of thunder caused Peter to open his eyes he hadn’t realized were closed. He must have dozed off for a minute. Tony was quietly watching the movie and Peter vaguely recognized one of the actresses from a Star Trek movie. After a few minutes Peter heard vague laughter from upstairs and a
'Morgan!' causing a painful reminder that he would be leaving tomorrow. Part of him wished him and May could stay here forever. The lake had its own little beach and Tony’s alpaca Gerald was really fun to take on a leash and walk around the woods by Tony’s house. Morgan also regularly dragged Peter outside to make a sandcastle or catch bugs and Peter always caught Tony staring out the kitchen window or from the front porch at them an amused expression. Peter yawned loudly, feeling an overwhelming surge of tiredness, so overwhelming he felt he couldn’t get up and walk up the stairs, instead wanting to sleep on the couch. Peter weighed his options of either walking up the stairs and passing out at the top and falling down or sleeping on the couch. Without much time to weigh his options accordingly he gave into the exhaustion and fell asleep, his head lying on Tony’s chest right by his neck.
“I see I put one kid to bed, and you got the other.” Pepper said and Tony glanced down to Peter who was now fast asleep. He hadn’t even noticed, Peter must have fallen asleep during the twenty minutes Pepper was upstairs with Morgan.
“Funny.” Tony said sarcastically. Pepper raised an eyebrow and Tony motioned for the blanket on the other end of the couch. Pepper grabbed the plaid throw blanket and helped Tony spread it on the sleeping kid before leaning down for a kiss from Tony.
“I see Tony Stark does have a soft side. Who knew?” Pepper whispered so as not to wake Peter. Tony rolled his eyes but didn’t reply.
“Well, I’m gonna finish up some paperwork upstairs and then go to sleep. G’night.” Pepper said and went upstairs as Tony yelled ‘goodnight’ after her. Tony turned his attention back to the movie, although he found the movie mediocre at best, but he thought Peter would enjoy it a bit. It was a stupid Sci-Fi comedy about space travel that had come out about two years ago. He looked down at the sleeping kid and before he realized what he was doing brushed the hair off of his forehead causing the teen to lean into him more. He paused for a moment as he smiled slightly. Tony turned the movie off and grabbed some of the blanket the kid had draped over him. Kicking up the recliner he muttered ‘night’ and fell asleep.
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“...oh, thank you Pepper, have you seen Happy?”
“Yeah, he was outside last I saw him, over by the garage- the one with cars in it I should clarify. Do you need help?”
“Oh no, but thanks I was just looking for…” Peter slowly opened his eyes and saw his Aunt holding a box and whispering with Pepper who was wearing a tan sundress Peter had never seen her wear.
“Are you finally awake?” Tony asked quietly and Peter looked up and turned beet red. He had fallen asleep on Mr.Stark. Peter immediately sat up.
“Oh, hey Peter you’re awake sweetie. Can you put this box in the truck please while I run and check everything upstairs?” May said holding out a box labeled ‘ New Scrubs’. But before Peter could get up Happy came in and grabbed the box from May causing her to smile at Happy in a way that made Peter highly uncomfortable. May watched Happy leave, blushing a little bit.
“Oh shoot, we have to get going!!” May exclaimed as she glanced down at her watch, surprise written on her face. “ Peter check that you got everything out of the guest room and then we gotta go!!”
Peter nodded and got up, still embarrassed about falling asleep on his mentor’s shoulder last night. Tony didn't say anything though and watched Peter scurry up the stairs before getting up and folding the blanket. May, Pepper, and Tony all waited for Peter to come down before heading outside where Morgan was digging with a stick looking for ants for her anthill.
“Well, we better get going. Thank you for everything!!!” May said frantically throwing her purse in the car. May gave both Pepper and Tony a quick hug before opening the car door, about to get in.
“May!” Happy yelled from the garage. “Are you leaving?”
“Yeah. We are just rushed because my alarm didn’t go off.” May shouted. May then glanced at Peter before running over to the garage to talk to Happy leaving Tony, Pepper, and Peter.
“Oh, Peter shoot, did you have any breakfast? I’ll go grab you something-” Pepper said and ran off into the house leaving Peter and Tony waiting beside the car Tony had ‘lent’ (given) May. Peter awkwardly looked around the yard once more. It felt weird leaving.
“Are you ready to get back to spidermaning?” Tony asked.
“I guess.” Peter shrugged. In truth he wasn’t even sure if they needed a spiderman anymore. It had been five years. What was Queens even like?
“Hey kid-” Tony said, putting his hand on Peter’s shoulder. “-you’ll be fine. Besides you have Iron Man for backup and even though I live here I can be in Queens faster than you can say ‘Help’. Plus, I reactivated the Baby Monitor protocol-”
“Tony.” Peter groaned at the mention of what he considered an unnecessary addition.
“Queen’s need’s a spiderman. Especially now. Nothing will happen to you I promise.” Tony said very seriously, and Peter nodded. Why did he have such a bad feeling about this?
May came back towards the car smiling before motioning for Peter to get in. Peter quickly gave Tony an awkward side hug before jumping in.
“Bye kid. See ya May.” Tony yelled as Pepper came out with a banana for Peter apologizing about the wait because Morgan spilled juice all over. After a few more awkward goodbyes they drove off leaving the cabin in the background.
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The drive home was long and boring, Mr. Stark really did live in the middle of nowhere, a stark difference to Peter's home back in New York. The lake house was really nice but Peter couldn’t hide the feeling of missing the city. Queens, New York. Living in the city was all he had ever known. Even though he has moved around a lot from living with his parents to then moving in with his aunt and uncle. He's always felt at home because he's never left the city he knows and loves. Peter was eager to get back, to see how it looked now. After all, it had been 5 years.
That fact still didn't seem real to Peter; 5-year, 5 year he was gone, what's changed and how? It didn't seem real to him. 5 years felt like a 5-minute nap. He wondered if the city would look the same. If it would look different and futuristic, or belittled and destroyed by only what he could assume was the anarchy that ensued when half the population just up and disappeared.
Looking out the window of the car, trees were starting to thin as they came out of the thick secluded forest of the Starks, heading back into civilization. In the distance he could see tall skyscrapers attempting to touch the sky. Their little brothers of building stood aside them glaring in disappointment of not being as tall. The city looked like a sort of cement forest of its own kind. Where the buildings looked like trees, competing to grow big and tall to stretch out their leaves to grasp as much sunlight as possible to grow even taller and tough the sky first. The traffic of cars resembled a herd of animals all wanting to reach their destination together. Close together moving ever so slightly but instead of going out looking for food the herd of cars looked for money, their jobs. The occasional plane or two would fly high above the city like a mighty hawk in the sky. Sea surrounding the city seemed alive almost as it was beaming with boats sailing back and forth through the harbor to New Jersey and New York.
It was no forest like the Starks, but it was Peter's own kind of forest, and he loved it. He had really forgotten what it was like in the big city. After the battle Banner and Strange quickly ran to Danvers, who was passed out with the infinity stones sending radiation across her body. Tony aided them in getting her to Wakanda through a quick portal, but once she was through there was not much left to do. And they had to get home, everybody else was getting aided by Wong, but the number of soldiers meant a long line. Tony didn’t like lines. Instead, Peter found himself hoisted into the air by Iron Man himself, with Rhodey and Pepper followed closely behind. They landed in a small air strip where a plane awaited. Tony deactivated his suit, as he gently pushed Peter onto the plane, in deep conversation with Rhodey about something. The plane ride was a blur, too many issues to discuss and none he could help with.
The plane landed at a small air strip and Peter followed Tony out of the jet." Well now what?" Peter asked.
Tony tilted his head," Well you're going to stick with me for now kiddo until we can find your aunt hottie. And before you say anything let me state that I did not just fight Thanos to get you back all for you to get lost again. So, for the time being you are sticking with me."
Peter chuckled a bit, " Seems reasonable, I guess. I just hope we can find her sooner than later."
"Me too kid, now come on Happy pulling a car around and taking us back to my house."
" Didn't your house get blown up by that terrorist group a bit ago?" Peter asked. Rhodey snorted behind him.
"Mhm."
"Soooooo where is your house now?" Peter said, gesturing with his hands.
" I'll show you," Tony said right on que as Happy pulled up in an expensive Lincoln car.
Peter's body shook slightly as May passed over George Washington Bridge, finally crossing the threshold into New York.
---- ------ ------ ----- ---- ------- ----
“Who is he?” spoke a tall young man with a Russian accent into his walkie talkie. Looking down at his computer screen at a new picture just sent to him. The picture was of a male suspect with short brown hair, wearing a bright blue school hoodie, walking into a store called Delmar's Bodega.
“Well, we are ninety percent sure it’s this person…” A mysterious female voice answered back though the device.
“Is it the camera angle or is he really a child?” The young man shifted himself upright in his seat at the idea of having to execute his plan on a kid.
“… he’s a child but-” The woman's voice cut out for a moment.
“-but he could be used. Young people last longer and acclimate to the serum better. With his strength and stickiness…"
“He could be better than the Winter soldier mam.” He said in astonishment, not realizing he had cut off the woman mid sentence.
“Make sure it’s the right kid, and if it’s him, take him alive.” The voice came through the walkie talkie with a sinister tone.
--- ------ ------ ----- ---- ------- ----
“And one order of Pad Thai. No, not chicken- I said Pad Thai. Yes.” May said as she ordered food on the phone. Peter lifted another several boxes into his bedroom. It was bigger than before but still small. May was adamant to Tony that they would be able to get their own apartment, and Peter understood. As much as he loved Tony he didn’t want the man paying for everything. It just felt uncomfortable.
“- it’ll be ready in thirty minutes? Yes… great thank you!!” May’s voice echoed into his room as he sat the last of his boxes on the floor. After the snap they had been evicted, because neither he nor may had survived it, but their stuff had been put in storage vaults. Or some of it, a lot was stolen, some people took stuff when they moved in.
“How do you like it?” May asked hesitantly, placing a hand on Peter’s shoulder.
“It’s perfect.” he replied to his aunt who beamed at him. She rubbed his back before leaving as she received another call. Peter opened the first box and grinned as he saw the Lego death star in it, with few broken pieces. Setting it gently on the floor he took a picture and sent it to Ned. He was overjoyed to hear that Ned and MJ had been blipped with him, although he knew it was selfish of him. Honestly, he didn’t know how he could survive school without Ned to keep him company and MJ was the prettiest and coolest girl he had ever met. He blushed as he thought of her. She was sarcastic and mean but had a soft side, even if she would never admit it. Also she was just insanely beautiful. His thoughts were interrupted as Ned texted back.
Ned: Oh my gosh I can’t believe they kept that!!! :)
Peter: I mean who would wanna steal it?
Ned: I dunno, cool people.
Peter: Yes, because we are definitely cool.
As his phone buzzed again with another text he dropped it suddenly, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up. Irritation rose through him, his spidey sense had been going off all the time with no real danger. His senses felt dialed to eleven as he heard every noise around him, May talking to Happy on the phone, his phone buzzing, a cat meowing next door, the cars outside, people yelling across the street. Feeling overwhelmed Peter pressed his head into the one pillow on his otherwise naked bed, wondering if this anxiety had any real basis.
---- ------ ------ ----- ---- ------- ----
“Come on Peter, let me see the robot spider!!!” Ned begged as they walked home from their first day back at school. They had gotten the ‘we are glad your back but we have to start the school year over for you’ speech a million times and Peter just wanted to get back to the apartment as his Spidey Tingle had been tingling all week. It’s probably just nerves, after all he was dead for five years.
“No Ned, I don't think that’s a good idea. I’ll show it to you later.” Peter responded as Ned groaned.
“Peter, I have to go home to help my mom with dinner and won't be able to talk tonight, pleaseee.”
“Ned I-” Peter looked around for an alley. “- fine, just come here.”
They walked into the alley then Peter reached into his backpack and looked around first. His Spidey Tingle seemed to be on high alert right now… it was making his head pound with pain, maybe this wasn’t a good idea.
“Peter!!” Ned practically yelled and Peter shushed him before going back and looking.
Peter and Ned were completely unaware of two people hiding in the shadows of the roof, watching them from above.
“Is it him?” One shadow began.
“I’m trying to see, but oh wait-”
As Peter searched, he pulled out his mask and threw it to Ned then further dug into his bag looking for the spider.
“It’s him. We got him.” The shadow said with most delight.
“Are you sure?” The second shadow answered back curiously taking a closer look.
“Yes. We’ll go into phase two tonight- let's just leave before they spot us.” The two people on the roof left quietly out of sight.
“Here I’ll show you.” Peter said, finally pulling out the spider and snatching the mask back from Ned. He tapped the back of the spider three times, turning it on then letting it crawl around his arm for a bit and showing Ned it’s features before turning it off and zipping his backpack shut. As they left the alley Peter looked behind him one more time, but there was no one there. Why did he feel like he was being watched? Maybe it was because he had been blipped for so long his spider tingle was trying to make up for lost time by making itself go off even when nothing dangerous was happening. Peter said goodbye to Ned and thanked him for offering to fix the coding on his spiderbot later before heading up the stairs to his new apartment.
“Hey May.” Peter said, greeting his aunt who smiled and hugged him.
“How was your first day back at school?"
" It was a normal school day, the only major thing that they said was we have to take midterms again, which nobody is happy about."
" Oh, I'm sorry sweetie that must stink, by the way I have a night shift tonight. So as much as I would love to stay and hear all the details about school I have to be on my way, but I’ll leave you twenty bucks for food or there is some potato salad in the fridge.” May said tripping over boxes. “ And I’m picking up our couch from the storage facility tomorrow so no more lawn chairs!”
“Oh, cool that'll be nice” Peter said as May grabbed her keys and purse. “ Bye May.”
“Bye! Don't forget to get to bed at a reasonable time, you have school tomorrow” May replied before shutting the door and leaving Peter by himself. He went to his room where he began to unpack the boxes. He was happy to learn that most of the little figurines and other stuff in his room had been boxed up and put in a storage facility and now he just had to unpack it. After a while he turned on the tv for a bit, went out to grab a pizza to eat, and watched The Empire Strikes Back. By the time the final credits rolled it was 1:30am. Peter figured with school tomorrow he better get to bed and grabbed his phone, ready to get into bed when a loud crash outside. It made him jump out of his own skin. He felt his spidey sense spike.
“I better investigate…” Peter mumbled as he quickly slipped on a black hoodie and threw up his hood to hide his face, not bothering with a suit. It’s nothing right? Peter hoped it was and regretted not putting on his suit as he leaped out of his window and his feet hit the ground. He took a good look around. There was no one there. Maybe it was nothing? Peter began to slowly look around again when he saw a large figure jump down. A tall young man in a black suit with broad shoulders stared at him.
“ Hel-Hello sir, is everything alright?” Peter said tentatively as his spidey sense felt out of control. It made him want to grab his head with both hands to help deal with the pain and to help him focus, but Peter knew he needed to stand his ground. The man took one look at him and merely shrugged, as Peter went to grab the man's arm he felt a sharp prick that made his body sting. He followed the pain to its source and realized he had been hit in his left forearm with a tranquilizer dart.
He plucked the dart out from his skin and began marching closer to the shadow of a man who shot him. But with every step he took, it took more energy out of him. It felt like he was fighting against an invisible force trying to hold him back. Peter realized he was starting to lose his balance, and his eyes were getting heavier then they had ever been before.
He finally fell to the cold wet ground but had enough energy left to catch himself from his fall. All the while the shadow of a man watched Peters struggle with a smirk across his face.
"You think this is funny?" Peter said as he started to feel a wave of exhaustion hit him.
The man crouched down to Peter's level. "No, but she'll be happy to see that you are one hell of a fighter".
"S-s-she?" Peter tried to mumble back in confusion. Peter wanted so desperately to kick and yell at his attacker, but his body felt so weak, and he felt so exhausted. The only thing he could do was scowl at the man now standing above him as he gave into a world of darkness that was engulfing him, into a deep sleep he could no longer fight.