Chapter Text
It takes Coulson almost pulling Skye to her feet, forcing her to join him at the crash site for her to follow. For her to take a deep breath, and hope, for only a moment… the smallest spark of hope in her chest, that maybe it wasn’t so bad. Maybe, somehow… he made it out. Maybe, maybe he wasn’t up there at all. She didn’t know for sure, maybe he’d been on the ground… maybe… maybe… maybe…
For each maybe, for each what if, there’s a million, no, a billion reasons that wouldn’t work. Why that couldn’t be true. But she slides into the passenger seat if Coulson high tech shield car, hand still locked around the necklace, and waits for them to reach the plane.
The street is filled with firetrucks, and police, and ambulances. Some, with shield logo, some without. But they’re all going the same way. All driving in the same direction. It makes Skye stomach twist uncomfortably. Because she knew it was bad, but for each emergency responds she sees, she realizes that she doesn’t have the slightly clue what scale this is.
Somewhere along the way, another shield car pulls up behind them. Looking through the back window, Skye can recognize the red-haired spy anywhere. Strong and powerful. She’d fought with her once, during her first meeting with Peter. Had fought side by side with her, kind of, at least. But she didn’t know the spy like Peter did. Only knew of stories with soft smiles, and bright green eyes, and strength, and losing to her during training. Some of which made sense, some of it less so. She’d never worked with her at shield, before it fell. Wasn’t sure if Natasha was even an Agent anymore. But she’s there, in the car, following troupe like everyone else. Hoping.
Because that’s hope in her eyes, mirroring Skye’s so picture perfectly.
They pull up to the beach in silence. Because there’s no words what the ocean of flames that’s dancing in front of them. Illuminating the darkness and bring an unwanted warmth to them. Heat the licks against their sensitive skin, and threatens to burn and destroy, and leaves only ashes behind. Because fire is pretty, but it has an ego bigger than Tony Stark. Steals the spotlight from the star filled sky above them. Fills people with fear, yet strength, yet pain.
There’s loss cargo, and broken, melted, disformed, piece of plane everywhere. Covered in sand, and dust, and possible wet from the nearby ocean. Hundreds of meters of trash, and pain, and brokenness, and nothingness.
She can smell the fire, as the smoak flows into their face where they stand at the edge of the road. Can smell the air plane fuel, just there, burning up the world. Breaking everything apart, until it will final explode. Soon. As the temperature raises above what it should. And leave the beach even more destroyed than it already is.
Standing there, now… is a waiting game. Coulson’s arm is placed over her shoulders, and Natasha has found her way to Skye other side. The fire reflects in her eyes, like burning suns shining light on a mirror, making it glow unnaturally. But it makes Widow glow, makes her prettier than ever.
Agents pass around the beach with long water hose, in a desperate attempt of getting the fire under control. The water almost hangs in the air around them, like small water droplets, stuck mid fall. Hovering against their skin, making the heat less intense. Avengers, guards, police, shield agents, they all show up, lining up there by their side if there’s nothing they can do. Ready to step in, and take over, if they’re needed. But for now, they stay there in that almost magical moment. Like all their heartbeat together as one. Stronger. Powerful.
“I come back from the dead once” Coulson lets a hand drop against Skye shoulder, and she leans into it. Lets the soft touch prickle against her skin. “He cold too”.
Skye shrugs lightly. Coulson has a point. A desperate, painful, but… at the same time, hopeful, point. Because Coulson came back from the death, Skye had too once - almost. And while there had been alien blood included in both of those recoveries, and it had scars and mysteries that the team was currently working on figuring out, Skye knew that Peter was enhanced too. And maybe that made her heat beat a little more steadily, as she takes a shaky step into the sand.
She’s grateful now, that Coulson had forced her out of the high heels, and into a pair of flat shoes. Regrets not having changed out of the dress, because it drags through the dirty. But she feels a desperate need to walk out into it, all that same. It’s just a fucking dress.
Skye doesn’t do dresses and earrings and makeup.
Skye feels much more like herself when she runs around her shield uniform. When she carries a gun at her hip, which, she currently is. But it isn’t quite the same. Not really.
Exactly what prompts her to walk towards the coast, she isn’t even sure. It just happens. Like a million songs inside of her head, switching every second, but all guiding her the same way. It almost reminds her, and that movie Peter loves. Star Wars, was it? That sense they have, as they share a bond. And maybe Peter and Skye share a bond too because they live in a world filled with superheroes and aliens. Why not the force too?
It calls for her, shows her where she needs to place each of her steps, as she makes it to the water edge, and sees there… a little future up the beach a body lay. A small, lifeless body. With skin so pale, and hair wet, and dark bags underneath his eyes. But it’s Peter’s face, and Skye runs.
Feels her feet moving under her, despite her never given them the command to do so. They just know that they need to reach him, and over her shoulder she shouts. “We need a med team”. But her words are almost inaudible over her own heartbeat. Stronger now. Stronger than ever before. And she reaches him, falls on knees next to him.
The Spider-man mask is long gone, Skye had seen that mile away. Lost somewhere in the fire, destroyed, like Peter should have been. Only he isn’t. There are dark marks under his nose, ashes settled there, and Skye, can hear the strained breathing before she even has a chance to turn him over into his back, so she really can see. But when she does, her heart skips a beat. His eyes are open. Hanging slightly, and Skye can see life in those eyes, as her fingers places themselves against the pulse point, to confirm that. The suit is burned. Large chucks of fabric are missing, and Skye can see blood. Dried blood against Peter’s cheeks, and blood that’s seeped into the suit.
Peter eyes opens a little more, as Coulson makes his way to them. A med team not far behind. “Did a win?” he asks with a sluggish, concussed, smirk.
Skye nods, with a soft smile. A part of her desperately wants to laugh at those words because it’s almost ironic. Did he win? Sure, the heck he did. “You did”. Another part of her, wants to hit him. Shame him, for all the hurt, and pain he’d put her through during the last hours.
“That’s good” his voice rings out, “We should go travel” he whispers, “Ever been to Disneyland?”. His eyes are so childish. So, puppy doggy, that Skye feels her heart break for him. She loves this lovable idiot. Her idiot.
“That…” Coulson says and kneels and Peter’s other side. Slowly securing his left arm. His left arm, which is bent at an impossible angle, but Peter doesn’t seem to notice the pain. “Might have to wait until you’re back on your feat” he finishes off, “I’ll pay, though”.
Peter hums, and lets his eyes slide close. “That’s okay” he mumbles, “There’s something I need to do first anyways”.
***
The smell of fire reminds Peter of late nights on this very same roof with Ben and May. Making a campfire in a small firepit, on top of their apartment building. Roasting marshmallows, and hot dogs. Eating candy, and singing songs, and just, being a family.
It’s moments that Peter misses dearly. But this is almost just as good.
There’s a campfire going, five chairs around it. Coulson, May, Skye, and Peter are all sitting there. More soda than any human could drink, chips in bowls. And Peter’s laptop stands open on the last chair, broadcasting the warmup for Stark industries press conferences. They’re talking about the attack, the plane crash, and somebody has even gotten a few good pictures of Spider-man from behind, getting away from the area. Being helped by Coulson and Skye. Peter’s hair, and young frame is usually visible, but his face isn’t there, and his hair is generic enough.
Only, know his arm is bound is a cast until his healing kicks in fully. And he’s used his asthma inhaler four times today, just because of the smoak in his lungs. But Dr. Cho had felt comfortable sending him home, and he was grateful. It hadn’t been a lie there was something else he needed to do. Something important. He’s grabbed the box, now resting against his chair, waiting for the right moment to let the plan unfold.
“Shield has made the announcement on Spider-man condition, that he’s recovering as well as could be expected, but that with the injuries, it may take a couple of weeks before he’s back to his web swinging. But they have yet to say anything about his involvement with the attack last night. Speculations go, after the discussion between Stark and Spider-man last week, that he was the attacked. But Spider-man fans all over the world dismisses this easily”.
“I can’t believe they let him go free until the hearing” Skye shakes her head, leaning into Peter’s side, “And then letting him go public? How does that even make sense?”.
Coulson sips his win slowly, leaning a little closer to the fire. The stars on the sky above them shines brightly, but not as brightly as the flickering flames that covers the fourth of them in a soft orange light that makes their skin shine. “He made some damn good deal with the government” Coulson says with a shrug, “But if he tries anything that’s done”.
May places her finger over her lips as the screen fades and they’re taken from the studio to the compound. “And it appears Mr. Stark has finally made his entrance. Fashionably late as always”. The report speaks in the background as Mr. Stark staggers on stage. Flashing lights illuminating the screen in white lights, as he makes his way towards the microphone.
He leans over the podium with a smile. “First I’d like to confirm the rumors, that me and Rogers are now engaged” he starts off, showing the ring to the camera, “People have been asking”.
“About the little ferry incident last week, I’ve been told not to comment” he raises an eyebrow at the camera, “But I will say, that it’s a larger misunderstanding. We’ll clear it, and everything will go back to normal. I…” he waves at himself with a smirk, “Am Iron man. I can’t do anything wrong”.“Now, about the attack, and following plane crash last night…” pictures of the of original robbery, that Peter had attempted to stop comes onto the screen. “The attacker is a name known as Adrian Toomes, who’s been creating, and using, specialized alien technology to create weapons and technology for attacks like last night”. The picture fades to the ferry incident. “I’ve been following them for a while, trying to stop them. But without success. Leading me to believe, they have a guy on the inside, knowing about our work. I believe that… to be Spider-man”.
Reports shoot up in their chairs, questions are thrown left and right, with camera’s flashing once more. “What the hell is he talking about, there’s no evidence of that?!”. It’s Skye. Steve, who’s been standing in the background moves forwards, placing a warning hand against Stark’s lower arm. Mouth something that looks like ‘don’t do this’. It’s ignored. All off it.
“With that said I think it’s about time you knew the truth. Spider-man calls himself a hero. But in reality, he is a, seventeen-year-old kid, playing hero in pajamas. And his name is-“<. Steve hands places themselves over Stark mouth. When he came on stage nobody knows, but the guards that had been ideal earlier moves in too. Grasping under his arms. Mumbling under their breaths as he’s cuffed up. “Spider-man is the reason the city is falling apart! You can’t trust him…”<. He’s guided down from stage by the guards, before Rhodey makes his way up on stage.
Peter leans forwards, closing the laptop with a sigh. “He really out did himself this time”.
“I gotta tell you” May smiles softly as leans back into her chair, “Not a fan of that Tony Stark”. There’s a short break of silence. The wing howls through the city, leaves the streets below empty. “You wanted to talk to us about something?”.
Peter nods, and finally pulls the box up into his lab. It’s been hidden away for a long time, haven’t been open for even longer. Not that he hadn’t wanted to, but like Daisy is brought back memories that Peter wasn’t prepared to deal with. Wasn’t ready to deal with.
The expo still stands so clear in his mind. He’d seen Iron man as a god…
Now all he saw up there was the devil.
Iron man had been a guardian angel, and Peter had been inspired by the man in the sky, protecting the world around him from aliens, and crazy terror attacks. Had sat glued to the TV screen back, in 2012, at some of Ben’s friends house outside the city. Where they’d gone to be safe, hiding away. And Peter remembers seeing Iron man fall from the sky. Dead. He’d been dead.
Now… now it’s Peter who’s falling. Falling fast, crashing towards the ground. Had been for a long time, the suit, the expectations, the pressure pulling him down below the surface of the water. Because he’d been inspired to help people too!
Be that guardian angel that Iron man was supposed to be. Only now Peter knew that Iron man wasn’t a hero at all. Nothing like Peter. Not willing to look past his own ego.
He folds open the top of the box, slowly. His fingers running over the ruined, old, breaking, cardboard. He takes in the smell, of dust, and old, and wet. And sighs as his fingers dig into the content of the box. “A famous man once said…” Peter starts, pulling out the Iron man helmet Ben had bought him that night, the autograph is faded now. But it had been the best gift, Peter had ever gotten. Except for May’s Spider-man suit. “Destroy what destroys you”.
Peter lies then. That isn’t at all how the saying goes. It’s longer. Much longer. More powerful than that, but it just… didn’t sound as good. Destroy what destroys you, could be the title of an action-packed adventure novel. Simple. Straight forward. Or maybe it wasn’t… maybe it really wasn’t if you know the whole sentence.
Destroy what destroys you they said, but they get mad when you destroy yourself.
He lets the helmet rest in his hands for a short moment, before he gets to his feet and discards it into the flames of the fire. Let’s it be consumed, by the hell where it came from.
Peter had destroyed himself, therefor, he’d done so even more. That had been the meaning of those words, as he’d read them some late-night months ago, unable to sleep, or find rest or peace. Because he wasn’t good enough. He couldn’t be a hero. He regrated it, of course. But now the words had a new life. Destroy what destroys you, Peter. But what destroys you?
He did… but that ends now, with the fire. With the painful, hurtful, strong, fire.
Destroy what destroys you.
That Peter does.
***
“And Betty was there, and we danced to all the music! And, you should have seen it. That girl, Flash brought, right? She had cuts over her eyes, because Flash crashed the car he borrowed and-“ Ned’s voice is louder than is should be, as they that following Friday walks towards the last class of the day. Decathlon. “It’s a bummer you missed it. And shame about the arm. Must have been some fall”.
Peter shrugs as the steer into the classroom. “I guess”. Skye has gone home. Home? Could she call Shield home, or what it more of a work, maybe both. But she had. Her time had come, to finally help with the final piece of the puzzle of the secret, underground city.
Peter had seen the pictures a handful of other shield agents had taken. It was almost like a labyrinth of caves and stone. Water dripping in from somewhere, creating rivers down the sides. They’d spend days traying to map it all out, matching things up with the drawings they already had, but large parts still hadn’t been explored. Area’s blocked, and area’s they hadn’t seen before showing up as they went deeper. Peter wished he could be there. Getting to explore together with them. It seemed, interesting. Exiting maybe. Almost as if was calling for him, like it was calling for Skye. They’d talked about that before she left.
She’d said she heard it. The city. Vibrating under her feet. And Peter understood there, in ways even he didn’t understand. Ironic. He knew what she meant, long before Skye had said it. But he wasn’t there with her. Between school, and repairing the suit, and healing… he couldn’t.
He drops into one of the chairs, Ned falls down in his next to Betty. Discards his backpack by the leg of the table, as MJ smiles at him, and sits down in front of him. “Good everyone is hear now” Mr. Harrington smiles as he enters the room with the trophy in hands, “Decthalon national champions. That’s no small task!”. Everyone claps with smiles and laugher as the last few finds their spots. They’ve finally been given their own training room. Not more wooden chickens.
“We’re gonna have to put this back into the trophy case soon, but just for motivation during this practice, we’re keeping it here” he smiles, pushing it to the middle of the table. “So… with Liz leaving, we’ll need a new team captain who can take over for the rest of the year before we choose a new one next year” he looks arounds the room, with glimmer in his eyes as they fall to rest on MJ, “As our current Co-Captain, I’d like to promote Michelle Jones, to Captain”.
The class falls into another round of claps, louder this time. As people cheer for their new captain. MJ hides her face behind her hands, a little shy. But smiles all the same. “I uh…” she sighs, “The first thing I’ll do as Captain, is to promote a new co-captain”.
Mr. Harrington nods in agreement. “Good idea Michelle. Any ideas?”.
“I was actually thinking…” she looks from Ned and Betty, to Adam, to Harry their newest member, to Flash. Looks at each and every one, before her eyes soften and falls on Peter. She opens her notebook - the one she draws in - and looks down into it. Let’s Peter see too, a small drawing of Spider-man swinging across the pages. In the new suit. She looks up at him, with an unreadable smirk, before she says, “Peter Parker, could be our co-captain. Because of his level of intelligence, and bravery”.
“Really?” Peter asks, almost shocked. He feels something in him shake, as he sighs with a nod and bows his head, “It would be an honor to be your co-captain”. Another round of applause rings through the room before they start going over questions, plans for the next competition, and Mr. Harrington pulls out a basket of homemade cookies.
The day is ended in front of the Trophy case. MJ holding the Trophy, with an arm around Peter’s shoulders. Whole the team in frame, as Mr. Harrington snaps the photo.
***
Natasha stands in front of the school as Peter staggers out together with the team. Her face carries a serious tone, that makes Peter freeze in his step. As if paralyzed, his body going ridged. She leans against her car, and barely gives Peter a glaze as she gets in, and waves for Peter to follow. He waves a hesitant goodbye to the others, and slides into the passenger seat.
Natasha drops a bag in his lap, before she pulls out of the parking lot. Peter carefully lets his fingers pull it open, revealing the red and blue spandex of the Stark suit. “It belongs to you”.
Peter feels his heart skip a strong beat in his chest, before flickering, and the bag crumples close between his fingers as he pushes it behind him, onto the backseat. “I don’t want it” he says with a growl, “I already have a suit”.
“You do?” Natasha raises her eyebrow, “Not that hoodie from your room, right?”.
Peter shakes his head, grasping around his backpack. The suit is there, even if he’s arm is still healing. Cho had said the cast could come off Sunday. That he should be healed by then. He isn’t so sure. It still hurts to move, but he trust her. “May made one”.
“Do you have it with you?”. Peter gives a sharp nod, looking to Natasha in confusion. “It’s Skye… something happened”.
If his heart had skipped a beat before, this time it stops. His breath stops. Skye? Skye is hurt? The shakes in the ground that Peter feels around Skye, settles down. Stops. And Peter feels a tear roll from the corner of his eye. “Where are we going?”.
Natasha turns down the road, out of the city. “Shield HQ” she says sternly, “Skye is gonna be fine, Peter. But Coulson thought she’d like to see you”. There’s a moment of silence between then, when Peter takes a deep breath. Calms his body. “You did great with the plane” she goes on, “How did you figure out what your instinct was telling you?”.
Peter shrugs. “I didn’t”. Natasha raises an eyebrow, “It was more like… a leap of faith”. Break. “Can I burn the suit?”.
***
*Narrator voice*
Next time in what if… Natasha recruited Spider-man, instead of Tony Stark: “Control” <- (Work in progress name).
In a world filled with mutants and mutates, a third, unknown mutation exist. They call themselves… inhuman…
As Skye, also known as Daisy Johnson, is forced to go through life altering changes, she and her boyfriend Peter Parker, is throw on the trip of their lives. Towards afterlife, where Peter - together with Skye’s mother and father (who are sorta crazy), must help Skye gain control over her newfound abilities.
But not everything is as it seems… and so, things tumble out of control. Revealing things about Peter and Skye, that no one could have ever predicted.
Annnnnnnnd… Cut!