“Y/N - please wake up - please, please, please wake up”
You groaned, the panicked voice sounding slightly louder now.
“Oh god, you’re alive - okay you can do this, I just need you to open your eyes - c’mon”
Listening to the voice, you fought against the heaviness of your eyelids, eyes fluttering open.
A choked sob escaped Peter’s throat as he watched you move, his voice hoarse from talking to you for the past few hours. He watched with glistening eyes as you groggily took in your surroundings, a million apologies ready to spill over his lips.
“Pete?”
Your voice was croaky, head thumping in pain with every tiny movement you made.
“Yes - Yeah, I’m here. I’m here”
Hating the way he was crying, you went to move over to reassure him, stopping abruptly as the chains kept you tethered to the wall yanked you back. Panic began to build as you made eye contact with Peter, your chest constricting painfully as you realised both of your masks were off.
“What happened?”
“I don’t know - we were swinging and then - I woke up and you were slumped in the corner - I thought you were dead, you’ve been out for hours” he stammered, voice thick with barely restrained tears, “I don’t know why we’re here. I really don't”
Before you could try to console him, the door swung open with a large bang, three heavy-set men walking in, each wearing matching smirks.
“So two of the avengers are teenagers, huh” one said, mockery clear in his tone, “I wonder why Stark would ever let people who get captured this easily on the team”
Both of you didn’t dare speak, eyeing the metal bat in one of the men’s grip.
“You may be wondering why you’re here, to put it quite simply you’re hostages, so we’re gonna need you to say a little hello to Mr Stark”
The man on his left brought out a camera and started filming, a sadistic smile on his face.
“How about you first princess?” He asked, turning to point the bat at you, “Wanna say a little hello?”
You just glared back, not saying anything, fists clenching in anger.
“Oooh we have a feisty one boys, teach them a lesson”
“No! Don’t touch her!” Peter yelled, pulling against his restraints as the first hit of the bat landed on your stomach, knocking the air from your lungs, “Stop it! Stop it!”
You could do nothing to stop the grunt of pain that escaped your lips, your eyes refusing to look away from Peter as you tried to show him that you were okay.
After a few more hits, they backed off, leaving you on your side, body radiating with pain.
“How about you boy, you want to say hi to Mr Stark?”
Peter turned to look at them with pure venom in his eyes, faltering only at the minuscule shake of your head.
“Hello”
“See? It wasn’t that hard was it” the man chuckled mirthlessly, gesturing for the recording to stop, “we’ll be back in a few hours. Don’t try anything stupid”
As soon as the door shut again, Peter strained against his bonds to try and get a better look at you.
“Y/N? Are you okay?”
“‘M fine” you groaned, “was my fault”
He let out a low growl, “we’re gonna get outta here. I promise”
“I know Petey”
Silence settled over the two of you as you began to move, trying to get back to your sitting position to alleviate the pressure from the quickly-forming bruises on your side. It turned out to be more difficult than it looked, the lost use of your arms making it incredibly difficult to move without hurting yourself further.
Peter just watched helplessly as you struggled, wincing every time a soft whimper fell from your lips. He wasn’t used to seeing you like this - vulnerable - but it terrified him. Lips setting into a thin line, he started to struggle with the cuffs around his wrists, searching for any way to free his arms so he could get to you.
“We’re gonna be okay” he grunted, voice slightly scratchy from the tears lodged in his throat.
“Yeah we are”
“Can you pay attention for just another three minutes please” Steve sighed, running his hands over his face exhaustedly.
The avengers had just got back from a mission out of state, unearthing some HYDRA files that opened a whole pile of Pandora’s boxes.
“We’ve been going over this for an hour Cap” Tony snarked back, relaxing further back in his set, feet resting on the table, “We’re all tired and want to sleep”
“I’m sorry Steve, but couldn’t we go over this tomorrow?” Bruce asked quietly, “I don’t think I’ll remember any of this anyway, I’ve got the onset of a migraine”
Steve sighed again (something he was finding himself doing a lot lately) and nodded, folding his arms.
“But we go over this tomorrow, 8 am sharp”
“Roger that” Clint saluted, moving Nat’s feet off of his lap and making his way to the door. He stopped as FRIDAY’s voice startled the room.
“Incoming message for Mr Stark - it’s urgent sir”
“It better not be the senator again because I swear to -”
“It’s a video. I have identified Mr Parker and Ms Y/L/N”
Natasha’s eyes hardened at the mention of the two youngest avenger’s names.
“Play the video”
The whole room watched with baited breath, Sam letting out an angry curse as they watched you get beaten. Tony just sat there, mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
What if he was too late? What if you were both already dead?
“FRIDAY” Tony’s voice was hollow, ignoring the hostage message at the end of the clip, “Track the sender immediately”
“Yes boss”
Steve walked over to Tony’s side, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder. The billionaire looked up from his clenched fists, seeing his determination mirrored in Steve’s eyes.
“Let’s go get those sons of bitches”
Peter let out an angry huff, his wrists rubbed raw from his failed escape efforts. You watched as his face screwed up in frustration, banging his head backwards against a wall.
“I cant” he said, eyes closed in defeat, “I’m sorry”
“No, I’m sorry. I cant even sit up properly. I’m not much help”
You smiled as he huffed a laugh, your slumped posture hiding the worst of the bruises that had already begun to bloom along your side.
“They’ll find us, it’s just a matter of time” Peter said suddenly, as if reassuring himself.
“Of course they will. You know Mr Stark would never leave you out here to die”
He frowned at this, shuffling towards you as far as he could, his eyes shining earnestly through the quickly dimming sunlight which filled the room.
“They’ll be coming for both of us. Not just me”
You nodded, mostly for his sake, making the serious expression on his face lessen slightly.
“Sure Pete. I know that”
Before he could protest any further, a loud explosion shook the base. The initial noise was followed by an outbreak of shouts, the door to the room you were in flying open with such intensity that it was ripped from the wall.
Steve stood in the doorway with a relieved expression, calling for Tony.
“We’re gonna get you outta here” he said, rushing towards you, Tony appearing behind him and hurrying over to Peter, muttering furiously under his breath.
You winced slightly as he untied you, the bruises beginning to throb again from the movement.
“I knew you’d come! See? I told you they would y/n” Peter grinned, rubbing his sore wrists before giving Tony a quick hug.
“Yeah - thanks for this” you mumbled, nodding at Steve, who wrapped his arm around you to help you to your feet.
“‘S no problem kid, we just need to focus on getting you both out of here, alright?”
The corridors were filled with the sounds of fighting, the tell tale sound of Clint’s snickering meaning he probably hit one in the butt. When they reached a certain point, Steve passed you over to Tony, giving you a reassuring smile before rushing to help Sam who had just been thrown against the wall.
“Just hold onto me” Tony grinned, faceplate locking back on as the thrusters at his feet burst to life, carrying the two of you to the quinjet.
Later that night, as you were all gathered in the common room of the tower, hot chocolate in your hands, you allowed yourself to see it how Peter had been trying to show you since the beginning.
Not a team, but a family.