(Revealed Secret) - I've Been Waiting For This Moment
Tony had no clue how long it had been. His best guess was two weeks, it was a sloppy guess at best, but it was as close as he could get. But that meant that Peter had been here for almost four, over a month, if Tony was right, and he hated that they weren’t out of here yet. He hated that he knew that Peter was almost dead. Knew that the kid had almost reached the end of his rope, and that Hammer didn’t want anything from them.
He had begged and pleaded. Offered to give Hammer whatever-the-hell-he-wanted if he would just let Peter go. But Tony had ruined his career. Tony had ruined his reputation and gotten him sent to prison, and then he had gotten out on good behavior, and here they were. And Hammer was going to watch with glee as Tony watched his kid’s life slip ever so slowly from his fingers. And it hurt him. And it made Tony want to hurt Hammer. To inflict pain onto every cell of the man’s being.
So, when Hammer came bursting into the room on that fateful morning with fear plastered over his face for the first time during the duration of this whole event, Tony had felt a sense of great accomplishment, despite having done nothing.
“How did you do it?” Hammer spit out - his suit untidy and his hair frazzled. “How do they know?” Tony had pulled the kid behind him, blocking Peter’s body with his own.
“I don’t know what you're talking about.” He said, his voice laced with sarcasm.
“You better tell me now!” Hammer screamed, causing Peter to stir in his sleep, hazy eyes opening with concern.
“I really have no clue what you're talking about! I did what you said. No weapons, no electronics. Me and my clothes. That was our agreement.” Tony placated, but he wanted to jump for joy. They were getting out of here. He heard someone sprinting down the hallway, and his heart leapt as he saw Goon number one with terror in his eyes as well.
“We have to go, boss!” Hammer nodded, and turned - looking back at Peter as if deciding whether he should try and drag the kid with them, but a deadly look from Tony and an explosion down the hallway had the man high-tailing it out of the room once more.
Tony bent over Peter, allowing himself to sob as he pulled the kid’s loose form up to his body. He heard the kid’s wheezing breaths as the heat from Peter’s brow set Tony’s skin on fire.
“Hang on buddy, just hang on!” He cried. He heard metal footsteps and someone yelling. “Rogers!” He yelled, alerting the man to their position. Then he saw them.
Steve, Barnes, and Rhodes. They all stared at the two with relief clear over their faces. “He needs help!” Tony cried as they rished forward.
“Nat, Buck is going to run out and help you, bring the backboard in.” He said into their comms as Rhodey knelt down beside the two.
“Any major injuries I should know about now?” He asked, looking over the deathly pale kid with a terrible sadness in his eyes.
“Um - he - he has - breathing -” A hand rested on Tony’s shoulder, and he turned his head to look Rhodey in the eyes.
“Breathe. Tones, we’ve got you. Sam and Clint are going to get Hammer, and we’ll get out of here, okay?” Tony took a breath and nodded slowly, watching as Natasha and Bucky pushed a gurney into the room hasitly.
“Okay guys, lift him on three.” Rhodey said to Steve as Bucky took Tony and helped him off the cot. Steve had Peter’s body as Rhodey braced the kid’s neck. “One, two, three.” They lifted the unconcious kid, and they were almost to the gurney when a loud, high pitched noise emitted over the speakers. Peter’s body tensed immediately, and he began to sieze, a haunting choking noise coming from his throat as he began to crash to the ground, Steve and Rhodey having been caught off guard by the sudden movement.
Peter almost hit the side of the metal cot but Steve threw himself down and pulled the kid against his chest. Peter continued to sieze, as the noise rang out throughout the room. Tony wanted to move towards the kid, but Buky kept him still.
“Let them get him - Steve will take care of him. Steve will take care of him.” Bucky said as he looked for the cause of the noise. Bucky let go of Tony for a second when he saw it. There was a small speaker in the corner of the room, looking inconspicuous. He grabbed Steve’s shield, and in a swift and deliberate throw, the speaker was busted and Peter’s body went limp.
“Alright, let’s get out of here.” He said, helping Tony as the team strapped Peter in and began the trek to the quinjet,
-
Peter knew they were moving. He felt something strapped tightly over his chest and he heard voices as the table he was laying on was lifted and pushed around. He felt like Hell to be quite honest. His brain was a mess, and his body was on fire. But he knew. That was the problem. He could open his eyes, but he knew that within a few minutes he would be waking up, strapped to that God-forsaken table and he would be pushed through another simulation.
“Peter can you open your eyes for me?” A voice that he vagualey recognized spoke next to him as he heard something clicking underneath him.
He doesn’t know why he obeyed, but Peter opened his eyes to see someone with tan skin and dark eyes and glassas and concerned features staring down at him.
“There you are. Okay, I’m going to get you on oxygen and painkillers right now. We’re going to take really good care of you. Can you tell me what hurts the most right now?” Bruce asked. Oh. This was Bruce. Peter blinked as a mask was settled over his nose and mouth, and oxygen was pouring into his chest, and he hadn’t ralized how much his wheezing had taken from him as he relaxed into his breaths.
“Ev’r’thing.” Peter muttered, unable to pinpoint exactly where - it was everywhere. His whole body, every inch of his being ached.
“Okay, alright. You’re going to feel a slight pinch in your arm, but we are going to get you on fluids and some of your spider-sized painkillers.” The man said, but Peter was confused. He wondered if Tony had come on the rescue mission. Was Tony here?
“Hey, buddy. I’m here. I’m right here.” Peter felt a hand on his own and he smiled around the mask.
“You c’me.” He muttered, and it waas supposed to be happy - it was a good thing, but Tony just frowned and winced as Rhodey slipped an IV into his arm and someone settled a blanket over his shoulders.
Peter felt so tired. And so cold.
“Yeah, I’m here. I came, buddy.” Peter nodded as a chill wracked through his body.
“His fever is getting higher. He’s got an infection, I’m going to start administering antibiotics, but Cho will be more qualified to handle this when we get to the compound.” Peter felt something
settling around his chest, and it was so warm that he felt his body beginning to relax.
“Hey buddy, you just take a nap okay?” Tony asked, giving the kid’s hand a squeeze. “We’ll be here when you wake up.” That was all of the encouragement that Peter had needed to slip his eyes closed and succomb to the darkness and the relaxation of finally getting pain medication.