Are You My Savior or Nightmare
~Steve
It had been one month since that horrible night that Tony Stark died in his son’s arms. One month since Peter went off the reservations. Steve could see the exact moment Peter had broken clearly in his mind’s eyes. When Sam called it and Tony Stark drew breath no more Peter had instantly withdrew from the world and buried deep within himself. The kid embraced his darkness and rage that had been clawing at him since his dad’s disappearance. Steve tried to pull him back from that ledge, offer him support and guidance, but Peter would have none of it. He threw off any hand that tried to comfort him and had spit in all the Avengers faces when they tried to talk to him.
“Why should I listen to murders?" The teen had screamed. "This would have never happened if you people wouldn’t have betrayed him! Some team you are, you put my father in a grave!”
Steve shudders at the memory of those words that have plagued him and the memory of the last time he had seen the boy. ~Flashback Steve had been making another attempt to speak with Peter. He had made a promise to himself to look after the kid. After all that was the least he could do for Tony. Today was Tony’s funeral and the church was packed full of mourners. The Rogue Avengers had stayed in the background even though the government had pardoned them in the memory of Tony Stark, they knew they weren’t necessarily wanted. Steve had watched Peter; the kid had given a moving eulogy that had been laced with venom towards his father’s murders. The part that worried Steve the most was that the boy didn’t cry, he just stood there devoid of all emotion. Only his eyes betrayed the anger and darkness raging within. After the speech Steve approached the young Stark to offer him a place among the Avengers and Peter just laughed in his face. “You and the world consider the Avengers heroes, but I refuse to be a part of that lie.”
Steve sighed, sadness and pain clawing at his heart. “Peter what happened to Tony will haunt me for the rest of my life, but he believed in this team and our mission. I think he would be proud to see you a part of it.”
Peter stepped back from the captain as if he had been slapped in the face. “Don’t you ever try and use my father to manipulate me! I will never be an Avenger or whatever you people consider yourselves!”
Peter moved to walk away but Steve reached out and gripped the boy’s shoulder. He could feel Peter trembling with grief and rage. “Peter please, we just want to help you!”
Peter yanked his shoulder out of Steve’s hand. “The best thing you can do for me is leave me be. Better yet don’t get in my way.” Before Steve had the chance to ask the teen what he had meant Peter melted into the crowd.
Two days later Steve had his answer to his unasked question. Forty-eight hours after the funeral a new vigilante made their way onto the streets of New York. This vigilante had a striking resemblance to Spiderman except for two very important details. One the suit was different and two, this vigilante had no problem with being reckless and dangerous. The vigilante had made a big statement that night and the only person that knew what happened was a young woman named Kayla.
Flashback within a Flashback~
It was late when Kayla was walking home from work. She was rounding a street corner when three intoxicated men pushed her into an alley and preceded to pin her against a wall and rip at her clothing. Kayla begged them to stop while calling for anyone to come to her aid. The men’s maniacal laughter echoed through the alley creating a sickening pit in Kayla’s stomach. She squeezed her eyes shut when she heard the sound of a belt clinking as it was unbuckled. Just as Kayla had given up hope and prepared for the worst there was a loud whooshing sound followed by a few grunts and then an eerie silence.
Opening her eyes Kayla found herself alone in the alley save for one person. This person was knelt not too far away watching her closely. The individual was hard to see in the dark alley, squinting Kayla could see her savior was dressed in a full body black suit. Slight silver coloring crisscrossed the suit like a spider’s web, a deep dark gold colored the boots and the fabric under the suit’s arms and down the torso. In the center of the black chest sat a hot rod red spider encircled by what looked like a pale blue arc reactor.
Kayla stumbled away from the brick wall clutching at her ripped clothes. “You saved me.” She stuttered out. “You’re a hero, thank you!” The black spider snorted and stood to look down over the woman. A cold aura surrounded the stranger creating a tense atmosphere Kayla take a staggering step back growing more uncertain by the second.
“Lady, I’m no hero. I’m here to clean up this city, to finally make the change the Avenger’s never could.” Breaking the tense moment, the masked man shot a web and swung out of Kayla’s site.
“Wait, who are you?!” She shouted after him, but her question disappeared unanswered into the night just like the stranger. Pulling her tattered clothes closer to her body Kayla took a few steps back towards the street. She had only made it a few feet before stepping into what she assumed was a puddle. She didn’t think much of it until a wet drop hit her cheek. Reaching up Kayla touched the drop, her fingers meeting a warm and sticky substance. Her heart set off into a gallop as she withdrew her fingers and was met with the sight of blood. Kayla slowly raised her head as more blood dripped onto her face and let out a horrified scream. There trapped in a tangle of webs were her attackers, all three of them dead. Their bodies were contorted, and their necks clearly broken. The man above her had a look of terror on his face, blood leaking from a gash across his abdomen. Kayla tripped backwards trying to get away from the gruesome scene in front of her. Pulling her phone out Kayla dialed 911 all the while wondering what kind of sick justice this new vigilante had in mind for the city of New York.
~End of Flashback
~Peter
Peter pulled the mask from his face sucking in fresh air before hopping from his window to the floor. It had been a long but productive night; he had been able to rid the city of many undesirable characters. Peter closed the window and began removing his suit as he walked through the tower to the bathroom where he dropped the mask to the floor.
Peter gripped the edge of the sink as he took in his reflection from the mirror. The image that met him was a stranger from the person he was just a month ago. That person was a young teen that had little to no cares in the world. That Peter had a father that was also his best friend. He had a bright future, love, and security. This Peter had only money, rage, revenge, and blood. This new Peter was forced to grow up too fast with only one purpose kill the enemy before they kill you. Peter ran a bloody hand through his unruly hair. He didn’t know whose blood it was that coated his body and new suit not that it really mattered anyway.
Peter raised a hand and studied the blood, but he couldn't feel much other than a sick satisfaction that this hand was responsible for taking the lives of many despicable criminals. He remembered the moment that the value of life no longer mattered to him; it was the moment his father’s heart stopped beating. Why were worthless criminals allowed to live when his dad’s life had to be cut short? After everything Tony had sacrificed why did the world decide he didn’t deserve to have a future. It was then Peter decided he could no longer stand by and let this injustice continue.
Peter turned the facet on, running warm water over his dirt and blood-soaked hands. He watched with a faint interest as the water turned red before swirling down the drain. Peter knew his father would be sadden by his choice, he knew Tony wouldn’t want his son to be a murderer, but Peter couldn’t stop. The memory of Tony growing cold in his arms had driven him to take this path, to seek out the justice that no one had the courage to take. The media had dubbed him with names like the Black-Arachnid, Iron Spider, Venom, or the Black Recluse. The majority of the media seemed to be stuck on the name Venom, Peter had only rolled his eyes at their stupidity; he couldn’t care a less about having a nickname. All he cared about was spilling the blood of the criminals that dare cross his path.
Peter shut off the water running a damp cloth over his neck and face and throwing it in the corner with his soiled suit once he was clean enough. Walking out of the bathroom, Peter made his way through his cold dark tower. The only good thing to happen to him after Tony’s death was receiving his emancipation. But that didn’t help with the loneliness or the endless aching in his heart. Ned had reached out to him, but Peter wasn’t able to bring himself to submit Ned to his new cruel and bloody existence. After all his mission was to protect the innocent even if that means protecting them from himself.
Peter entered his dreary bedroom heading for his bed when a blinking light caught his attention. Frowning Peter picked his phone up from the desk and saw 5 missed messages. A few texts from Ned asking the usual questions of ‘where he was or what he was doing’. Swiping them away Peter was about to put his phone down when he noticed a different message. Curiosity momentarily peeked Peter clicked on the notification.
Peter,
I know you are hurting but you are taking things too far. We really need to talk before things get any more out of hand. If you won’t do it for me do it for your dad. Please don’t make us have to come for you.
Steve.
Peter quirked an eyebrow while a tiny smirk crossed his face. Snorting he reread the message before typing a quick reply. Peter had been wondering how long it would take before the Avengers decided to get involved. He honestly was surprised that they had waited this long before contacting him. He assumed it was out of guilt or disbelief but either way it didn’t matter. Peter punched the send button before tossing the phone back on the desk and flopping down on his bed. He had a feeling tomorrow was going to be an interesting day. Peter tossed the thought from his mind as he succumbed to his dreams where he knew his dad was waiting for him.
~Steve
Steve quickly pulled out his phone as it dinged. He could feel himself go pale and the room went cold as he read the message from Peter.
Catch me if you can!