10 versus Tony
Peter had passed out. When he woke up, he was in a small room, crumbled on the floor. The minute he opened his eyes the same searing pain coursed through him, the cause of his loss of conciousness in the first place. Peter cried out, stifling a scream with the gritting of his teeth. Ow. His mouth was sore from doing that.
It wasn't even like he could scream anymore; his throat was raw, his voice gone from the past hours of pain.
It wasn't just physical pain he went through, but mental torture too. Hallucinations, fears, bad dreams- it all came to life. There came a point where Peter wasn't sure what came from the gauntlet and what was reality. It all seemed so real and life like.
His mind was plagued with images of his his friends and family dying in front of him because he couldn't save them, the home he loved so much being blown to pieces and turned to fire and ash, Tony turning to dust right in front of him in his arms...Peter finally getting the hug he had always wanted, just not in the way he wanted it.
Tears streamed down his face and even now he wiped at his stained cheeks in embarrassment.
Peter steadied his breathing and took a shaky inhale that shifted to a sharp intake through his nose to stop a cry of pain. Ow. He used the wall to get shakily to his feet, limping on his bad leg. He had no clue when he had hurt it, but he knew he couldn't put all his weight on it. Peter slowly made his way over to the door and tugged on the handle. It wouldn't budge. Of course it didn't. Why would it be unlocked?
Peter turned and started walking back to the corner when he suddenly heard the bolt open and the door creak.
He turned around just as Thanos stepped in. Holding back a fearful whimper, Peter promptly crumpled, his leg giving out in his haste to scramble back. Peter crawled backward and pressed himself against the wall, hissing, "Get away from me."
Thanos didn't approach him, he simple stared, standing in the doorway.
"Why are you doing this?" Peter asked. It was a simple question. Why him? "Do you still think I'll help you? Because I won't. So why don't you just kill me?"
Thanos looked down on him, "For that exact reason Peter."
"W-what?"
"You're not afraid to die," Thanos said. "You're stubborn, determined and brave. No one has ever lasted as long as you under the reality stones torture," Thanos told him.
"Great, do I get a medal?" Peter scoffed.
Thanos smirked. "I admire your grit, your resilience... I can learn a lot from you."
"Oh, well that's just great. I'm glad we could work on your character development. I'd like to go home now, so either take me back, or kill me," Peter said firmly.
Thanos smiled at him and Peter squirmed under the unsettling grin. "I am many things Peter, a murderer is not one of them."
"I find that hard to believe," Peter dismissed the lie.
"A solider, who fights in battle, kills the enemy, is he a murderer?" Thanos asks simply.
"This is ridiculous," Peter laughs. "Don't turn this into a socratic seminar."
"Answer the question," Thanos says coldly, raising the gauntlet.
Peter flinches, and then curses himself for it afterward. He takes a breath. "I- I don't know."
"How about your mentor, Stark?" Thanos suggested. Peter curled his fists, suddenly shaking for some other reason then fear. This time it was pure rage, and it was building. "He's killed hundreds of people-"
"Don't you dare talk about Tony like that!" Peter roared, getting to his feet in anger. Thanos pulses on the gauntlet and Peter flies backward into the wall, crumpling to the floor with a groan but he still glares, leaning against the wall and gasping out. "Don't you dare."
"Is he a murderer Peter?" Thanos raises his voice.
"No!" Peter shouts, shaking his head violently. “Everything Tony has done is for the greater good, to save the world. Aliens from your army came to attack Earth and he stopped them from killing thousands of innocent people! He kills the bad guys. Unlike you,” Peter spits.
“Bad is a relative term. It’s established in perception,” Thanos says calmly.
Peter scoffs shaking his head, “Don’t give me that crap. It's really not.”
"Let's say Stark kills someone very close to me in order to accomplish his mission. Then I kill him out of revenge."
"You're not getting anywhere near Tony," Peter snarled, trying to get to his feet only for the power stone to push him back down again.
"Don't worry, it's just a scenario," Thanos says, smirking at Peter's threat.
"Right," Peter nods. "Who would want to date you with that nutsack of a chin?"
Thanos expression darkens and Peter sucks in a breath, but it seems the titan wants to get his point across and continues, "See how you reacted? Am I the villain?"
"You will always be the villain," Peter said.
"If you remember Quill is going through the same thing; I was forced to kill Gamora in order to complete my mission and now he wants revenge and is trying to kill me. According to your logic that would make him the villain," Thanos said.
"I get what you're doing," Peter shook his head. "It's not going to work. Quill's a good guy, he's fighting on the right side and you killed the one person he loved. You deserve to die."
Thanos nodded slowly, before he cocked his head, "Would you kill me Peter, if you had the chance?"
"Yes," Peter said instantly, not breaking his stare.
"Why?"
Peter can't believe he's actually asking. Tears come to his eyes and he pushes them down in anger, remembering Tony's voice, face, just everything about him in utter agony, bleeding on the ground of that horrible planet, pleading Peter to stand down. Oh God...Peter hadn't had time to think about what this was doing to Tony. He was probably blaming himself, not sleeping, not eating, burying himself in guilt.
Peter's voice breaks, "Because you've hurt my friends, my family-"
"Because I've hurt Tony," Thanos corrects.
Peter scowls, frowning at him.
"He's the closest thing you have to a father," Thanos says. "You'd chose him over everything, that's why you're so protective of him."
"Sure, whatever," Peter fakes a laugh.
"You know I'm right," Thanos says almost immediately and Peter's cockiness that is currently covering up the fact that he's scared Thanos knows him so well...it withers immediately. "I know I'm right. I've been inside your head Peter," Thanos reminds him.
"Oh, that's right. And how was that?" Peter asked angrily, "I hope I entertained you. What, was it like reality TV for you or something? How about you get a life."
Thanos purses his lips, "It was...sad. And painful. There was so much stress, worry, fear... Anxiety and panic. You use humor and clumsiness to cover up-"
"That's every teenager. Welcome to 2019 jerk," Peter quips.
Thanos laughs lightly. "But you're not like every teenager now are you Peter? You've seen things, fought things...you are hardly normal, no matter how hard you try to be. Going to school, making friends, liking girls...you will always be looking over your shoulder, waking up in the middle of the night with the weight of a building pressing down on your shoulders-"
"Shut up," Peter said weakly. That had hit home. All his life he had wanted to be normal. Go to school, go to college, get a job, start a family... and then when he got his powers he would try and convince himself, tell himself that it was still possible, but Thanos was just confirming the lurking fear that it never was and never would be. He was in. There was no way out, no way where Peter could live his life.
"Why do you do it Peter?" Thanos asks, snapping him away from his thoughts.
Peter's brow furrows and he stumbles on his words, "Why do I- what?"
"Put them all in danger. Every day," Thanos nodded. "Your Aunt, your friends...even Tony. You're a burden to anyone you get close to. They are all targets now. You basically have sealed everyone one of your friends' deaths, and family."
"That- that's not true," Peter shakes his head.
"There's a reason you keep your identity a secret Peter. You're still desperately convinced you can move on, stay in the shadows... but you're also scared that if your friends knew who you really were...they'd be afraid of you, to talk to you, to be around you. You're afraid you'll lose them all. Just like you lost everyone else."
Peter wanted to put his hands over his ears but found he was frozen in fear. He barely makes out a small, "Just stop."
"I'm just expressing your thoughts out loud Peter. It's about time you've come face to face with them instead of hiding them in the corners of your darkest realities. You know I'm right. First it was your parents, then you let your Uncle die, and now Tony, despite him being the invincible Iron Man, you'll manage to get him killed as well. You probably have more blood on your hands then I do," Thanos says.
Peter knew that wasn't true. He knew it wasn't...then why was he believing it? What was happening to him?
"No," he said weakly, but it was more of a question than a firm statement. It was like he didn't believe himself. "Not Tony..."
"Peter, you're just like me. You and I...we're dangerous because people don't understand us. We both want what's best for the world, to make sure history doesn't repeat itself, to make sure that people aren't in danger, so that our loved ones can thrive. My planet..." Thanos trailed off and shook his head, "I can't stand to watch that happen to anyone else."
The titan stepped forward, "I want to help Peter," he urged, "that's all I want to do. I know I don't have the best methods, but the ends always justify the means. Always."
"They- they do?" Peter asked innocently, his brow knitting in confusion.
Thanos smiled and nodded, "They do. Tell me, what would you do for Tony?"
Peter had been listening too intently. He blinked, snapping out of some sort of trance, breathing hard. He swayed slightly, his vision blurry, his head killing him. He was dizzy and conflicted, on the brink of having a panic attack. He barely managed to lift his head and stutter, "What?"
"Well let's just see," Thanos said and he raised the gauntlet.
"No," Tony begged, locking gazes with his kid, breathing hard, shaking as well. "Pete-" He looked at the titan and his voice raised, "Wait- please-"
Thanos raised his gauntlet and the blue stone glowed.
"NO!"
"I love you," Peter sobbed.
Tony's hand grasped open air-
"Tony!" Steve shook him and Tony jolted up, flinching as his gaze focused.
"You good?" Cap asked, stopping him from tipping backward in his chair and clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah," Tony said breathlessly, "Yeah."
"Any luck?" Steve motioned to the screen which was transmitting a call from the Benatar, Quill's ship, to try and reach Thanos. The team had written down what they were going to say, and Tony had written down what he was going to say, but he knew if it connected, he would go off script. The minute he saw Peter...if he- no. Peter was alive. He was going to get the kid back. He was.
"Nope," Tony answered. "Not yet. FRIDAY will send out an announcement once something big enough comes into scanning range." He yawned, covering his mouth and leaning back in his chair, rubbing sleep out of his left eye.
"Tony, how much sleep have you gotten since you came back?" Steve asked slowly.
None. He hadn't slept except for 20 minute time periods here and there.
"Tons," Tony lied, spinning around in his chair.
"Fine, how many hours last night then?" Steve questioned.
"17," Tony joked. Steve sighed. "I'm fine," he assured him. "As soon as we get the kid back."
"Yeah Tony," Cap nodded sadly, clapping him on the back. "I'll be in the training room, ok?"
"Yeah," Tony called over his shoulder. "And go kick Barton's butt, I think he's boxing in there."
Steve laughed and walked out and the minute he did, Tony's face smile and cheerfulness faded and he went limp in the chair, inhaling sharply and shakily. He ran a hand through his hair and curled his hand into a fist, trying to steady his breathing.
"You hide it well."
Tony jumped, spinning. He put a hand to his heart, laughing, "Jeez-"
Nebula was standing in the doorway, an unimpressed look on her face.
"You scared the crap out of me," Tony said.
Nebula walked over. "You hide it well. Why?"
"Why? What do you mean? Hide what?" Tony lies, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow, instantly straightening and putting on his usual smirk.
"I see it in your eyes. You cover up your fear and worry and anxiety when you're in front of your friends. They don't even recognize it," Nebula says in her low raspy voice that somehow has emotion in it.
Tony realizes the gig is up and sighs, putting a hand up in his famous shrugging gesture, faking a smile that quickly fades. He rubs his goatee and looks down, "Yeah well...when I'm happy, the team's happy. When I'm confident, they're confident. If I break in front of them..." Tony shakes his head. "I can't."
"Because you're their leader," Nebula infers.
Tony ponders that and finally nods. "Yeah...I guess I am."
"I understand. But...doesn't that get tiring?" Nebula asks.
Tony smiles weakly, "Not if you do it for the right reasons. Peter...the kid that got taken- my kid-"
"Your son?" Nebula nods, and her tone makes it a question.
Tony suppresses a smile and laughs lightly before continuing, Nebula noticing he never said yes or no, "I would always make sure I was strong for him because I never wanted him to worry. I wanted to protect him from the evil in this messed up world, shelter him from what this job really does to you..."
He shakes his head and looks up firmly, "I will never break in front of him because I don't want him to see that side of me...to see me weak. And I will never get tired of that, or put my guard down for even a second because it's my job to keep him safe and protect him and teach him. For a kid like that, it doesn't get old."
Nebula nods in understanding and they both sit in silence, 20 feet apart.
Tony suddenly breaks the silence with a shaky breath, clenching his fists so Nebula doesn't see their shaking, "Can I ask you a question? And I need you to be honest with me."
"Yes," Nebula nods.
"You know Thanos. What's- what's he doing to Peter? Is he going to..." Tony trails off, looking up with so much hope.
"He won't kill him," Nebula said firmly. Tony is about to breath a sigh of relief but the look Nebula has on her face makes him worried. "Thanos will try and get Peter to join him," she said slowly.
"You've mentioned he won't. So Thanos will then try and...persuade him- torture him, with the gauntlet or sheer force, making him see his fears, his darkest realities come to life, losing those he loves, seeing them in pain," Nebula's voice became lower. "Any fear he has will become real. He will degrade him in any way he can and say his deepest secrets out loud for Peter to hear."
"How do you know this?" Tony asked, his heart in so much pain just thinking about what that bastard was doing to his kid. Tears came to his eyes adn he froced them away, taking a deep breath.
"I've watched men break from these methods," Nebula said softly. "And he's done some of the same to me."
Tony straightened, his face contorting into that of compassion and sadness.
“It’s just easier now that he has the stones. But this isn't the first time Thanos has done something like this,” Nebula said. She took a breath and looked at him. Tony found it hard to read her emotion through her black eyes.
“If Peter does agree to help him, it won't be by his own doing."
"You're saying Thanos could convince him?" Tony says quietly, still processing the brutality of what she had just described.
"Not convince. Forcibly manipulate. He has the reality stone. That's how he can get into Peter's head. He will create realities to trap him in his own nightmares and fears, or make him see whatever he wants. He just creates the worlds, but Peter's mind- the human mind automatically reveals the evils before it reveals the good memories," she tells him.
Tony cursed under his breath, putting his head in his hands.
"Peter is strong," Nebula then says, realizing she had been a little to brunt. "He will resist it. I'm sure we'll find him before Thanos does any...damage."
"He's 16. Does Thanos even care? He's just a kid," Tony said quietly.
"I was 14 when my father replaced my hand with machinery," Nebula says. "No, he does not."
"I'm sorry," Tony looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry for what he did to you."
"I do not like apologizes," she said quickly. "They make me feel weak."
Tony nodded, wincing, embarrassed, biting his tongue before he can sorry again.
"But..." she says quickly, blinking, "thank you." She stands, giving him a nod. He gave her a weak smile back as she left the room and Tony watched her leave before he finally turned around to the desk and ran a hand through his hair.
He looked at the screen with pleading eyes, entwining his fingers and placing them under his chin.
Signal: Strong
Activated: 14:09 pm
Connected to RSS: Benatar
- Captain: Quill Rocket
- Ravager M- ship
Searching..... Searching.... Searching....
Tony spoke softly, “Come on kid, where are you?"
Peter gasped, getting to his feet.
"What the-" he looked around. He was in his suit, the one Tony had made him and for a second Peter’s heart skipped.
Had that all been a bad dream?
”Kid we got 10 people trapped on the west side,” came a voice from the comms. Peter our a hand to his ear in confusion.
“Wanna hitch a ride?”
Peter looked up and Iron man was shooting through the sky towards him as Peter got his bearings. He shot a web and hooked on to Tony’s suit, flinging into the air.
They were by a collapsing apartment building, the top floors on fire. Fire trucks littered the streets around them and sirens were going off. People were behind Peter- probably people that they had already saved; they were heading to ambulances and screaming ‘thank you’ to the flying superhero’s. Peter spred his thin flaps and let go, Tony doing a loop before he spiraled to catch up to him.
Peter dropped on a stable level, Tony at his side.
”I picked up the heat signatures, let’s go.”
Tony led them forward, blasting through unstable walls and ducking under fallen boards and rungs, everything on fire.
”Tony it’s getting hot!” Peter yelped.
“Yeah kid, I know. You’re not gonna be able to fit through there. Stay here! I’ll get them and you help me get em out, understand?” Tony said firmly.
Peter grabbed his arm, “No! I’m not letting you go alone!”
“Peter, I have to, these people are going to die,” Tony said firmly, shoving him off gently.
Peter stares at him hopelessly and then slowly lowers his head. Tony cups his cheek lightly and looks at him fondly.
“Be right back,” he promises and then takes off.
Peter watches him disappear into the smoke and tries to stop the fire from spreading, kicking some of the burning pieces towards the edges where the hoses were reaching and webbing the main structure together.
Suddenly he hears a shout and sees Tony emerge from one side and a bunch of people on the other.
”Kid! Get them!”
Peter starts towards the 10 people; Karen scans them all in when there’s a massive break in the top structure.
“Oh God,” Peter cries, running to try and push up one of the main frame boards that is holding the floor intact.
The ceiling in front of him cracks in half and suddenly he hears a cry and Tony is pinned beneath half of the ceiling, the other half threatening to fall right on his head.
”TONY!” Peter screams.
His voice is lost in the screams of the group of people stuck between fallen boards and the cracking ceiling.
Peter looks at him in fear, still holding the board keeping half of the ceiling in tact. If he drops it he can get the 10 people out, but Tony...
He’s struggling but can’t move where he’s pinned, the arc reactor shattered from the hit. He’s human now.
“No...” Peter murmurs, his head spinning, his mind splitting in two.
Usually he sees things in slow motion due to his enhanced senses, but right now he has to make a split second choice.
He looks at the people who are in danger.
He wants to die himself rather than make this choice.
Its 10 versus 1.
No.
It’s 10 versus Tony.
Tony, Iron Man, the one person he can’t lose, he can’t live without, the closest thing he has to a father.
Peter drops the plank and it falls through his calloused, trembling fingers.
He hates himself and can barely see through the tears, but lunges anyway.
Peter lunges for Tony.