Chapter 11
Peter groaned as he opened his eyes and sat up. He looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in a park, and he wasn't sure how he got there.
Stretching, he lifted his hand to scratch at his itchy cheek, meeting a crusty substance. Frowning, Peter picked at the dried substance on his face before pulling his hand away to look.
Peter felt the blood drain from his face as the dark red, almost black, flakes peaked out under his nails and on his fingertips. Following down from his hands, his arms were marked with dark streaks, some places thicker than others. His clothes were stained in blood, blood that clearly wasn't his.
Quickly, Peter lurched to the side, throwing up what he had had for supper.
What had happened?
Crawling away from the tree he was under and further into the bushes, Peter wrapped his arms around himself, panic seeping in.
He had no idea what was going on. He didn't remember anything after leaving the group home, but clearly something had happened.
Trying to calm his rising panic, Peter closed his eyes and let the sounds of the park wash over him. The cool breeze rustling the tree leaves. Children laughing on the distant playground. Dogs happily enjoying playing with their owners. Couples chatting happily as they walked the pathways.
It was nice, and Peter felt his heart rate slow.
Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath before fully analyzing his situation. He couldn't exactly exit the cover of the bushes looking like he did. There was no way a blood covered teenager would be ignored.
Looking around, Peter sighed in relief as he caught the strap of his bag buried in between the bushes. He grabbed it, pulling it out and brushing off the twigs and leaves. He started at the set of pajamas he had thrown into the bag when he changed. He knew he could swap out what he had on for them, but they were all he had. If he waited till nightfall, he could change and find a laundry mat. There was a good chance that he would be able to find some loose change by then, plus no one would be around to possibly catch a glimpse of what he was washing.
Releasing a sigh, he laid back on the soft grass, trying to remember anything from the night.
Whose blood was staining his skin and clothes? Why was it there? What happened to the person it belonged to? Had he tried to save someone and suffered a blow to the head? It would explain the lack of memory.
It was the only option he would allow himself to consider, because he wasn't sure he could handle it being anything else.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony pulled the cap further down his head and put on his sunglasses as he exited his car.
He was surprised to find himself looking at a rather public park. If the kid was trying to stay low-key, this was a risky place to be.
Holding up his phone, he began the trek toward the location of the tracker. He wasn't sure what he was going to find, if he really found anything at all. Peter could have ditched his bag at some point, or even managed to have found the tracker and took it out.
Praying for the best, he continued on.
His phone ringing temporarily removed the tracker location as Pepper's face filled the screen. Frowning, he answered her call.
"Hey Pep, I'm-"
"Tony!" Pepper shouted into the phone. "We have to find Peter! There's been an incident not far from the home. Another body, the worst of them so far."
Tony felt a cold dread seep into his bones.
"They found blood in the alley beside the home Tony. They think who ever killed the man, caught him there and then took him away. Tony.....that maniac could have Peter!"
Pepper's hysterical sobs filled the phone.
"Pep, Pep, listen to me!"
There was a sniffle on the other side of the line as Pepper tried to compose herself.
"Has anyone talked to the kids?"
"Tony! They're missing too!"
"Great." Tony huffed, running a hand down his face.
"Pepper, I want to you focus on finding Wanda and Pietro."
"But Peter-"
"I'm handling Peter. Just, just trust me here Pep. Let me do this."
There was silence then the shuffle of someone moving around.
"Ok Tony. I'll call the others and tell them to focus on the twins." she took a deep breath. "Please, find my son, Tony."
"Let me know when you have the kids." Tony said, disconnecting the line.
He stood in the middle of the sidewalk, the calm, sunny day a stark contrast to the feelings inside him. On his phone, the little light continued to blink and Tony prayed he was going to be happy with what he found.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pietro looked at the building before him with wide eyes.
"You can't be serious."
"I am." Wanda said, eyes narrowed in determination. "We're going to make sure things go the way they need to."
Pietro huffed out a breath and ran his hand down his face before turning to her.
"We can't just walk in there, Wanda."
"We're not, but Kent and Kathy Matthews distant cousins are." she said casually.
"Now I know you're not being serious."
"I am. Now put on the rest of your outfit."
"Exactly what are you planning to do? This place is littered with cameras and, relatives or not, they're not going to let us see them. We don't even know if they're awake! They weren't exactly in the best of shape when they were brought in. Cl-those two random criminals did a work over on them."
"You forget," Wanda smirked. "I managed to get into the heads of the Avengers. I think I can handle things here."
"Again, the camera footage?" Pietro pushed.
"We'll collect it before we leave. No traces left behind."
"Ok, but what'd your goal here?"
Wanda paused, looking away from her brother and toward the building.
"We both know who's in that building, Pietro. They've mistreated him. Physical, mental and verbally abused him. I can't let them get off as easy as they're going to. Jail isn't good enough." she said, looking at him out the corner of her eye.
"I think you feel it too."
Pietro didn't respond for a moment, choosing to let her words sink in. She wasn't wrong. He didn't think a simple jail sentence, even if it was life, was good enough for all the damage they caused.
Squaring his shoulders, he took Wanda's hands and gave a squeeze.
"Yes, you're right. I think it might be a good idea for our cousins to do a little....reflection on their actions. Maybe try to picture themselves in their victim's shoes."
Wanda just returned the grin he flashed her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony's anxiety spiked a little as he got closer to the location of the tracker. He was growing a little weary at the fact the signal hadn't moved at all since he locked on to it.
"Please let him be ok." Tony muttered, stopping where the tracker blinked.
Frowning, he looked around the area. Maybe Peter had ditched the tracker after all.
He had just about decided to continue on down the path when I slight shuffle from the bushes next to him caught his attention. Slowly, he made his way over, pushing aside the foliage.
"Peter!"
Peter jumped, surprised by the shout as much as the fact someone had managed to sneak up on him. Rolling over, he stared wide-eyed into the equally wide-eyed face of Tony Stark.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pepper ran her hand through her hair as she waited on Sam to return to the car. Her nerves were strung tight as images of what could have happened to Peter flew through her head.
She barely knew the boy, but she had immediately fallen in love with him.
How could anyone not?
It was so easy to see past the evidence of abuse to the sweet boy buried inside. They had already glimpsed him through interactions with Spider-Man.
Peter held Spider-Man in such high regard that it was as if he saw himself as two separate people. That Peter Parker and Spider-Man weren't the same person.
Maybe that had been how he was able to maintain his upbeat attitude, because he clearly didn't hold the Peter Parker side of himself in such a light.
Still, somewhere out there was a lonely kid in desperate need of help.
She couldn't think anything less.
She couldn't think he wasn't.
She looked over as Sam opened the car door and slid into the passenger seat.
"Here." he said, handing her an iced coffee. "How are you holding up?"
"Been better." she sighed.
"Well, I'm not about to help matters." Sam winced as Pepper turned her puffy eyed face towards him.
"The twins are missing."
"They're what?" Pepper yelled.
"Just got off the phone with Steve. The kids bailed and haven't been seen since. They've tried finding them, but no luck."
Pepper narrowed her eyes.
"You don't believe him."
"Oh, I believe Steve wants me to be believe they can't find them. I think the truth is they don't really want to."
"Why not? Peter is already missing, now they are to!"
Sam sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"He think they know, or at least Nat does, where they went."
"And I'm guessing she's not telling, nor is she going after them herself."
"She wouldn't let them go if she didn't think it was something they needed to do or they couldn't handle. I'm sure they're fine. Let's just focus on finding Peter for now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well, I just got off the phone with Sam." Steve sighed, sitting down at the table next to Clint.
Peter's case file was once again spread out before them.
"Let me guess, he doesn't believe we don't know where they are."
"Well, we don't." Steve replied, motioning between Clint and himself. "She does."
The two looked over as Natasha typed away furiously on her laptop.
"Leave them be. They can handle their business. They'll be fine."
"You're not leaving us much of a choice." Clint huffed.
"What do you two know about the mysterious killer the police are chasing?"
Steve frowned as he shared a look with Clint before turning to Natasha.
"I know the police are mighty territorial about it. They're been very clear they don't want our involvement. I think its rather stupid considering the increase in attacks, manner of violence, and the fact there has been no real connection from one victim to the next-"
"Other than criminal history." Clint finished. "I may not approve of the guy's methods, but he's not exactly attacking the innocent here."
"Still, none of the other vigilantes in the city go that far-"
"Frank Castle and Deadpool-"
"Haven't been seen in the city in months. These attacks have only been happening the past two." Steve shot as Clint shrugged.
"Fine. So what's the point, Nat?" Clint asked, ignoring Steve's eye roll.
"Considering the Matthews, I decided to look into some of Peter's other foster families."
"And?"
"A few of them have joined the victims list."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ma'am, I afraid we can't just let you in to see the Matthews. They're in police custody. You would have to have permission to-"
"I'm sure it won't be a problem for us to have just a few moments with them." Wanda smiled, her eyes flashing red.
The man stood frozen and silent for a moment before a dopey smile crossed his face.
"Of course. I don't see why not. I might do them good to have some family chastisement."
"Thank you."
The twins followed behind the doctor, Wanda stretching her powers out to touch each person they passed. They couldn't afford for anyone to give fully accurate descriptions of them, even if they were disguised.
"Around the corner is the room they're located in. Just give the officer outside the room your names."
The two nodded towards the man as he shuffled off back the way he came.
"So far so good. Let's see your next trick." Pietro whispered into Wanda's ear.
"Prepare to have your socks knocked off." she smirked, leading the way.
As they approached the room, the officer stationed outside stood to face them.
"I suggest the two of you turn and leave. This couple is under arrest and police observation."
"We're their cousi-" Pietro started before being cut off.
"I don't care who you are. No one is getting through that door. I don't know how you made it this far, but I'm going to have security escort you-"
"Surely you understand our need to see family." Wanda smiled sweetly, her eyes flashing red.
The officer looked at the blankly before nodding with a smile.
"Please, go right in."
"Thank you."
"Wow. Those training sessions are really paying off." Pietro whispered in her ear as they entered the room and shut the door behind them.
"Nat is brutal." Wanda replied.
The two stopped talking as they took in the ghastly sight of Kathy and Kent Matthews. The damage Clint and Natasha had inflicted had been highly underrated by the officers and social worker that had taken Peter away.
"Well, is it wrong that I don't feel at all bad seeing them this way?" Pietro asked, stepping up to the foot of Kathy's bed.
"This will pale in comparison to what I'm about to do." Wanda said, eyes narrowed. "They're bodies have been pushed to the limit, but I'm going to break their minds."
Pietro watched as Wanda stepped in between the two beds.
"I want you both awake for this." she said lowly, raising her hands and touching their foreheads.
The Matthews gasped in both pain and shock as their eyes flew open and consciousness returned to them.
"Hello there." Pietro grinned, leaning down on Kathy's bed.
"Who the hell are you?" Kathy asked, voice raspy.
To her right, Kent looked at the two intruders, unable to speak as his mouth was to swollen.
"It doesn't matter who we are." Wanda hissed. "What matters, is that you understand the atrocities you've committed, and that you will admit to your actions."
"You're insane." Kathy's eyes narrowed. "We're not admitting anything. How did you even get in here?"
"Tsk tsk." Pietro frowned, shaking his head. "That's not what we wanted to hear."
"No, it isn't." Wanda glared.
"Get out!" Kathy rasped.
"Not without a little parting gift." Wanda smiled wickedly.
"I'm going to let your mind pick itself apart. Everything horrible thing you've done to someone, you're going to know what it's like. You're going to feel the pain you've caused. You'll be begging for mercy long before it's over. I hope it wrecks you."
Pietro watched as Wanda's finger tips swirled with red magic as she placed each of her hands on the forehead of Kathy and Kent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Kid, what happened?" Tony panicked, pushing to himself into Peter's hiding spot. "Are you ok? You're covered in blood!"
Peter couldn't speak as Tony frantically checked him over for any serious wounds.
"Jesus, kid." Tony sighed. "You had us all worried."
"H-how did you...."
"I put a tracker in your bag." Tony answered, no longer guilty for his actions.
"You put a tracker in my bag?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Pete, I know the signs of avoidance better than anyone. It was written all over your face and body language. You had no intention of facing what was coming your way." Tony said, still studying Peter for injuries.
He knew the boy healed fast, but some wounds healed faster than others. Pepper and the twins would be furious if Peter was returned without care.
"I...I can't..."
"Come on kid, let's go get you cleaned up."
"No." Peter said, pushing further back from the billionaire. "I'm not going with you."
"Pete," Tony sighed. "You have three of the most powerful and influential people in the world focused on you right now, how far do you think you'll get?"
Peter frowned, looking down at the grass.
"They need to focus on someone else." he sniffed.
"And who would that be?"
"Anyone but me."
Tony narrowed his eyes as Peter still refused to look at him.
"Kid, they're not the only ones looking for you. Your little stunt, as I'm sure you know, wasn't unnoticed. The home called the police. Your description is out there and they're looking for you. Where do you plan on going?"
Peter felt the uncomfortable sting of tears in his eyes.
"I thought so." Tony frowned. "Come on kid, let us help you."
"You can't!" Peter yelled, pushing away further. "You can't help me and you shouldn't help me! You're wasting your time, all of you! You'll take me back and wish you hadn't! Just leave me alone and you'll be better off."
Tony watched as silent tears slid down the boy's dirty face. In all his years, he couldn't say a child's tears had ever affected him as much as Peter's did.
"You can't disappoint them, Peter."
"You don't know me."
It was true. Tony didn't really know Peter. Hell, he didn't really know Spider-Man all the well. Sure, he had worked with him enough to get a bit attached to his upbeat attitude, but these past few days had thrown all he knew out the window.
Spider-Man and Peter Parker were both the same person, and yet not. Peter had worked hard to give them a distinction. It was a little concerning.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tony finally crossed, what he was positive was, the last line.
"Look, Peter. You're soulmates with Wanda and Pietro, and they love you already. Pepper was ready to adopt you the moment we learned about your situation. As soon as she does, and she will, that makes you my son and I protect what's mine. So, we can do this one of two ways."
Peter finally looked up at Tony's words, a feeling of dread creeping up his spine at the tone.
"One, you come with me willingly. Two.......I put you in a suit and take you back by force."
Peter froze.
He couldn't be serious.
A long look at Tony's face told him he was.
Peter's thoughts whirled inside him. He wanted to feel anger. Anger at Tony for tracking him. Anger at Tony for threatening him. Anger at Pepper wanting to adopt him.
Anger and Wanda and Pietro for being their soulmate.
He was supposed to age out of the foster system and be on his own. Never find his soulmate or mates.
Never hurt them.
Never cause them sorrow.
That's all Peter Parker was good for anyway.
There was only one choice.
Forgoing his bag, Peter darted out of his hiding place. He was small and fast. There was no way Tony would be able to catch him. He would just have to keep running until he couldn't anymore.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Wow. These are brutal." Clint winced as he looked over the crime scene photos of Peter's former fosters.
"They're some of the worst." Natasha nodded with a frown.
"The Matthews were pretty nasty." Steve frowned. "Maybe they were worse."
"Or maybe the Matthews just got lucky enough to be victims of a break-in instead of this guy." Clint replied, completely unphased by his mentioning of the strange event surround the Matthews.
"Should we look into them?" Steve asked, crossing his arms.
"Normally I'd say yes," Natasha shrugged. "But I could really care less at this point. Whatever they did, they paid for it. Looking into them won't change anything now."
"This guy is all over the city." Clint whistled. "I mean, the killings have no pattern to place. The only links are criminals and the fact they all happen at night."
"Does anyone know if Peter was looking into this?"
Natasha and Clint both paused.
"I mean, he's on the streets every night as Spider-Man. I can't see him ignoring it."
"He's not the only vigilante out there, though." Natasha replied, leaning back in her chair. "Maybe they all are."
"I know that look." Clint huffed. "Who's at the top of your list?"
"There was an attack in Hell's Kitchen not to long ago. I can't imagine the Devil of Hell's Kitchen isn't investigating."
"Does Spider-Man know him?"
Natasha shrugged at Steve's question.
"Spider-Man has been seen talking to him once or twice. Just how well they know each other is unclear."
"Why are we asking this again? I'm pretty sure local law enforcement doesn't want us 'intruding on their territory'." Clint scoffed.
"The Matthews are about to be involved in a high profile crime case." Steve said, looking up at the ceiling. "If the guy doesn't already know about them, he will soon."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tony sighed as Peter darted out the bushes. He had really hoped the kid would come along willingly.
"FRI, launch the suit."
Back at Tony's car, the emergency suit engaged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter had a brief ting of his Spider Sense before he found himself enclosed in, what he knew, was an Iron Man suit.
Tony hadn't been lying.
"Let me out!" he screamed, watching as the ground got further and further away.
"I'm afraid I can't do that, Peter." FRIDAY's calm voice filled his ears.
"Releasing you from the suit would cause you serious injuries from your fall."
"This is kidnapping!" Peter shouted, desperate to reason with the AI.
"Technically it's a rescue." Tony's voice came through the speakers. "You're a runaway kid. I'm rescuing you from the streets and possible danger."
"I didn't ask you to!"
"I'm going to anyway."
As he tried to decide if the risk of breaking out of the speeding suit was worth it, a thought struck him.
The voice of anger that had rose up in him, was silent.
The time the voice should have been the loudest, and there was nothing.
He didn't know what to think of it.
"Trust me kid. You may not think it now, but you're going to thank me later."
Peter didn't reply.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pepper snatched up her phone as it buzzed in the console.
Sam watched as she fumbled to turn it on to see the message.
/I've got him. I'm taking him to the compound. He's escaped from one home, he'll escape another./
A tear slipped down her cheek as she quickly sent a reply.
"Please tell me it's good news." Sam said, looking at her hopefully.
"Tony found him. He's taking him back to the compound."
"Well, I guess we should go alert the cops and the home."
Pepper nodded, putting the car in drive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Incoming call from Boss.”
“Patch him through FRIDAY.” Steve replied.
“I have a special package in the way. Make sure you secure it when it gets there. I’m about 10 minutes behind it.”
“Package? You order us something special, Tony?” Clint smirked.
“If you consider the insecure, disgruntled, wonder twins teen soulmate ‘special’, then yes.”
“What do you mean ‘10 minutes behind’?” Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow at Clint and Steve.
“He’s in the suit. Kid tried to run again. Hence the ‘secure it’ warning.”
“You put the kid in a suit?” Steve groaned. “Tony...”
“No choice Cap. You'll see when why when he shows up. I'll be there shortly."
Steve pinched the bridge of his nose as the line went dead.
"Well, come on boys. Let's go greet our little Spider-Baby." Natasha smirked.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peter felt his nerves spike as the compound came into view. He knew as soon the suit landed that would be it for anymore escape attempts.
He most likely wouldn't be allowed out of anyone's sight any time soon.
"Your vitals are concerning, Peter. If they continue in this fashion, I will have to alert Boss of your distress."
Distress!
Of course he was in distress!
This was the last thing he wanted. He wasn't supposed to come back to the compound. He wasn't ever supposed to see any of the Avengers again! Spider-Man was supposed to leave New York. Branch out somewhere new. Maybe even become an entirely new vigilante even!
It had been a small thought in his mind for a while. He loved being Spider-Man. It was the only good part about him anymore. Spider-Man was useful and, for the most part, people loved him.
Spider-Man was everything Peter Parker was not.
Spider-Man was also easy to track. If he left New York, word of him showing up somewhere else would spread quickly, and no doubt the Avengers would be on his doorstep before he could blink.
No, Spider-Man would have to take a break and let a new hero step in for a bit.
It was sad, but also ok. It didn't matter what suit he wore, he was still Spider-Man regardless.
That, however, was quickly becoming a distant option.
He would be trapped with the Avengers, with his soulmates. There would be no way to hide all the things wrong with him.
They would learn quickly that he just wasn't meant to be loved anymore. He lost that right when May died.
When May died, he learned he should have been left alone.
"Prepare for landing, Peter. I have alerted those at the compound of your condition since Boss hasn't arrived yet."
Tony wasn't there?
Peter wasn't sure why that bothered him. The man had only betrayed his trust over and over, there was no reason to care anything about him.
Immediately, Peter felt the guilt creep up on him.
This was exactly part of his problem. Tony had done what he had to, and Peter was being his normal, ungrateful self.
This was why he didn't deserve kindness. This was why when someone did show a hint of care, Peter knew they were wasting their time and would ultimately be disappointed in him.
There was a jolt as the suit landed and a brief moment before the pieces separated, revealing him to Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, and Clint Barton.
"Welcome back little spider." Natasha smiled
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wanda leaned against the car as she waited for Pietro to round up the security tapes. She felt confident in the knowledge that, when they awoke, Kent and Kathy Matthews would be screaming their guilt.
With any luck, they'd never spend another night without the nightmares of what they saw.
"Got them." Pietro grinned, holding up the tapes as he stopped next to her.
"Good." Wanda smirked. "Maybe we won't be in quite as much trouble."
"Oh, we'll definitely be in trouble. Still, if ends in them paying for what they've done, I'll gladly take whatever punishment we're given."
Wanda nodded in agreement as she pulled out the keys to the car.
"No way!" Pietro said, snatching them from her hand.
"You almost killed us on the way here. I'm driving back. I want to be able to see Peter again."
Wanda puffed out her cheeks in frustration.
"My driving is perfectly fine and I want to see Peter too!"
"Then get in the car. I'll deliver us safely back to the compound."
"Whatever." she huffed, grumpily getting into the passenger seat and crossing her arms.