The Infinite Child

“I didn’t mean to do it,” Peter sobbed.

He laid in defeat on the soft patch of grass, recalling the whole event that transpired nearly minutes ago.

Peter couldn’t control the tremble in his hand or the crushing feeling in his chest. The only thing he could do was bury his head within his arms and legs.

“Why did they make me do that? They were my friends!”

“Nobody made you do anything and they most certainly weren’t your friends.”

Peter felt a stranger anger fester in his chest, moving up into his fists. Thoughts pushed through his head faster than he could prepare himself.

“I didn’t kill those men willingly! They were people! I don’t care if they took lives themselves! They didn’t have to die!”

“You can’t change the fact those men’s fate my gem, you must move forward. It’s no longer safe for you to return home or to the base. You must leave.”

Peter’s head snapped up, unwrapping himself as he turned to face the floating figure with a steaming anger that was foreign to him.

“Why should I listen to some ghost? Tell me one good reason why I should even acknowledge your existence, huh?!” Peter had stood in the figures face. “All of this is happened because of you and this power inside of me! Heck, I don’t even know who you are!”

“I used to have a name,” The figure drifted, “but that was long ago...you may refer to me as The Keeper or as my former nickname....Red Skull.”

Peter wanted to scream for this all to end. He didn’t want to know this figure on a name basis. It would give the haunting spirit an identity, which in turn forced him into acknowledging that this was happening.

“I don’t want this responsibility anymore,” Peter announced, his heart broken voice cracked. “Find another gem, and tell the stones that the deal is over! They got their joy ride, I had enough!” The teen spun around, trying to walk away only to feel his body freeze.

“No.” Power snarled. “Biology does not have say. Biology bows to us-“

“Let him go. We are no longer in control. Biology is now us.” It was Soul. Their tone easy as they cautiously attempted to secure the angered force. To tame the lion who fought against its zookeeper.

Though weak and fading, the stones sense of awareness was strong enough to form thoughts and communicate with a free mind. They had yet to fully melt into his consciousness, he realized. Though it’d be only a matter of time before he would be in full control.

“Enough control to level the universe.” Red skull sounded almost envious. If it weren’t for his panicked breathes he would’ve realized his guardian’s distance as if he’s remembering a memory that was long forgotten.

To think this all began to save the life of a man who he sees as a father. The life of a man who no longer needed a son figure like he needed a father figure.

Saddest part of it all is he’ll never regretted saying yes.

“The stones will die without you, and without them, balance will cease to exist.”

Peter couldn’t breath under the mountain of responsibilities crushed him. He knew from the moment he accepted the stones accord nothing would be the same, however he never expected this. All of this for what?

“T-That isn’t my responsibility.”

It was lie.

Everything was his responsibility. Even if he couldn’t control it, everything was his responsibility. It was built into him from an early age. Like a code inside his brain. The need to hold the weight of the world, to be the better man. The words were gitterish to him, making no sense. It wasn’t right, yet the words still left his mouth.

“You’re lost.”

The words sunk deep with meaning. Though short and simple, it felt like a knife to the chest. The reality of it all felt like a ton of bricks.

I’m lost.

“He’s running. All our men are down and Hill is in the infirmary.”

The words snipped through the air, making Fury’s heart grow cold. He sighed, his theory’s proven to be true.

Peter Parker was a murder.

“Lockdown the Stark’s, tail the Aunt,” Fury’s voice was brief and short, “Give Spider-Man a homecoming he’ll remember.”

Strange felt the change. He felt the surge of pure unchecked power. It was cold, unforgiving. It was full of pain and misery, yet anger and rage.

He had been in the library when he felt it hit him. It was so powerful that he was thrown back. He had to grab onto the book racks to keep two feet on the ground.

He felt his heart run cold, for a moment not a single breath left his frozen body. He hadn’t felt like this ever since...ever since Thanos. The only creature to send chills down his neck. The fear paralysis, frozen limbs, eyes wide, mouth dropped. Only this time he couldn’t mask it behind an emotionless mask.

“Can you do it?”

Stephen jumped at the sight of his friend standing by a set of books a few feet away.

“Do what?” He asked, trying to cover up.

“To kill a child to protect the universe?”

Stephen couldn’t answer the question right away, his judgment eating away at him. It took five minutes before Strange could answer,

“Yes.”

Tony felt everything from fuming anger to hot frustration.

He had been rudely interrupted from the search by Shield agents bursting into his house.

The first thing he had done when he saw the leading Agents face was give him a good crack across the jaw.

“Good to see you too, Stark.”The venom in his tone stabbed the billionaire causing him to puff his chest defensively. The agent should consider himself lucky. If it weren’t for the dozens of agents fighting to keep him away he’d blast all of their asses to Tomorrowland.

“How’s the miss’s?” The Agent faked shock as if he didn’t already know his situation. “Oh wait-I forgot, she’s at her parents house because you forgot how to keep a woman satisfied.”

“Fuck you,” Tony spat, struggling to remain calm under the dozens of arms pulling him away.

Pepper said she needed space from him. That until he could keep himself together that she’d keep Morgan with her parents. She didn’t want their daughter to witness himself self destruct.

“Get the hell out of my house.” There was no room for reconsideration. His voice was icier than the cold touch of Elsa’s hands. He was clear on his demand and completely serious.

“You know we can’t do that Stark.”

As Stark lived and breath, Nick Fury of all people made his way through the soldiers, trumping the small time Agent that he was close to murdering.

“What the hell do you want now? Wanna take another kid? Huh? Got another amazing idea that’ll probably end with me almost dying again?” Tony was bitter. Without any sugar to add, he was black. “Well let me break it to you, the Avengers are dead. All of them! So you can get your ass back on whatever garbage truck you flew over here and leave!”

“You and I both know what’s this about Stark.” Fury signaled for his men to let go. Tony huffed, shaking off whatever dirt those animals left on him.

“Yeah, well I don’t want to talk to a kidnapper.”

Nick gestured for his crew to step aside, to which they followed. Soon it was just Stark and Fury standing.

“Last night, twenty of my men were killed and one injured while on a routine mission,” Fury starts.

“What the hell does this have to do with me?” Tony snapped. “I have more important things to do, like track down my kid that you stole!”

“Tony...,” Fury sounded almost sympathetic, “The mission was Peter Parker.”

“What the hell did you do to him?! Is he hurt?! I swear to god if you hurt him-” Tony needed to know. It’s been far too long. He wasn’t even sure if the kid was alive if Fury was here talking to him.

“Stark, Peter was the one who slaughtered the agents. My men were there to arrest him for the murder of a separate agent.”

“What the hell?” Tony couldn’t process what he was hearing. It was falling on deaf ears. Ears that belonged to a man desperate to believe his kid was still the innocent boy he knew. “You’re wrong.”

Fury pulled out a shield pad where a video was paused, waiting for him to watch. He waited a few seconds before pressing play.

What he saw left him paralyzed. Though he couldn’t see Peter’s face, he could see him in a suit. He was unmasked and could see his fluffy brown hair. One minute the kid was looking around, confused and frightened at the armed men the next the kid’s hands were glowing and the building was collapsing. The glow reminded him of Wanda. Every time she’d use her powers, a reddish mist that surrounded her hands was almost the exact same thing happening now. Only this time, Peter’s seem brighter and much more evident. It made him sick to watch.

“Have you seen what I become?” 

“...He’s still human and like any human, he has a dark side. You just probably haven’t seen it yet.”

Tony wanted to pull his mentee from the video footage and wrap him in a hug, tell him that he was here and it would be okay. To sooth the fear he must be feeling, to tell him that he wasn’t alone.

“Help me find him before more people get hurt.”

Tony cursed under his breath. He didn’t want to help Fury track down his kid, but he had no choice. He was right. He needed to find Peter before they do and bring him home. He’d rather them find him with him than without.

“Friday, open facial identification and open it worldwide. Subject...Peter Parker.”

“On it Boss.”

Peter had stumbled through the cold rain. He wasn’t quite sure where he was or why it suddenly began to rain but he didn’t care. If he were to drop dead here from Pneumonia, it’d be a public service.

“Something is coming.”

Peters arm was suddenly wrapped in bright yellow rope, burning his wrists. He tried to move his other arm but another rope stopped him. Before he could react, two more shot out, capturing his legs. He was forced to his kneel on the muddy ground underneath him.

Above him came Strange floating down, revealing himself to the trapped teen.

It was like the image from his vision came to life. Every single detail was the same only this was really happening.

Strange landed in front of him like some sort of god. His eyes were emotionless and cold, barely even giving him the simplistic form of empathy.

“You’re here to kill me,” Peter states, his voice shaking. His lip quivered as he stared up at his old teammate with a broken heart.

“I am.” It was a simple answer. It was the truth.

“I’m sorry...for everything. I-I didn’t want to hurt those people,” Peter wasn’t begging for forgiveness. He wasn’t begging for mercy. He was stating the truth. “I-I can’t control it! It just hurts and it hurts so much!”

Strange stares at him, contemplating his words. It was hesitation he saw.

“Please make them stop. I don’t want to hurt anybody else.”

“Then why did you run?” Peter froze, his beating heart jumping to his throat.

“Why didn’t you turn yourself in? Instead you ran. You chose to hurt those people-“

“No,” Peter shook his head. He couldn’t listen. It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be true. “You’re wrong.”

“You didn’t ask for help, you just left. You knew something was wrong-”

“Stop.”

Strange’s gaze fell onto the spray of blood on his suit. “Who’s blood is on your suit?”

“Stop!”

“You hurt that man on news and you did it again, didn’t you? You hurt somebody else. Who? Who did you hurt?”

“Stop, stop, stop...”

“Who Peter? I can’t help you if you don’t tell me who. Who did you hurt? Tell me! Peter-”

“STOP!”

Suddenly Strange was hit with a force, knocking him back into the air. The strong blast sent him back a few feet, forcing him to land against a tree that knocked him unconscious.

Peter had done it again.

Only this time, it didn’t leave him feeling sick. It made made him feel good. To release his anger and pain.

That’s what made him feel awful. He wasn’t suppose to feel good about knocking the man who he once save from a spaceship unconscious.

He was dangerous.

He needed to be contained, like deadly virus. He couldn’t afford to keep hurting those he loved like this. He needed help. He needed to take responsibility.

He needed to do what was right.

Beck wasn’t dead.

No, he had just been knocked unconscious. He had managed to gain consciousness before the rest, pulling himself out of the rubble. Luckily the armor of his suit kept him from crushing to death.

He looked in annoyance at the dozens of unconscious shield agents. They just had to take him down with them. He knew he couldn’t trust those sleaze bags. He was glad they were crushed.

The illusionist glanced around, searching for the teen before realizing he was gone. He sighed. A powerful weapon slipped through his fingers. That boy was the key to everything and he was gone. Such a shame. The power he had would make a mighty great ally. He was the key to everything.

Stark would be devastated when he’d steal his sidekick and together they’d destroy the stupid legacy the Iron Man built in his face by creating a show of a life time! Dozens of people watching, cheering, for him. Beck-Mysterio. They’d cheer for Mysterio not Iron Man. Soon the red and gold iron would be replaced with his green and gold! In this world, he’d become the very thing he was destined for! He wouldn’t let this world’s Stark take that from him too. Landing in this world was a blessing, and now he was gonna cash in on that blessing.

Beck stepped out from the rubble, walking away with a mission in mind.

Find Peter Parker.