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Tony never saw it coming. Which was unusual, since he's always been on high alert ever since Afghanistan. He hired more security, installed extra safe guarding on all of his devices, he even upgraded JAVIS, who is now FRIDAY.
Yet, somehow, here he was. Tied to a chair in a small, dark room.
At first he felt irritated. He was so bored of the whole kidnapping thing. Yes, this was only the second time it happened to him, but he was constantly saving his teammates from this exact situation that kidnapping is old news now. He knew exactly how this was going to go, anyway. Whoever kidnapped him will come in, demand something from Tony (probably the Iron Man suits), Tony will refuse to obey, they'll knock him around a bit, and then the Avengers will swoop in to rescue him. It was pretty much routine at this point.
The door opened and a man walked in. He had a masquerade-like mask on, over his eyes and nose, which was good. It meant that he wasn't planning on killing him if he wasn't showing his face. The only feature Tony could make out was that he was brunet. The guy walked until he was stood in front of Tony.
"Hey, man." Tony smiled.
"Tony Stark. How are you?" The kidnapper asked, sarcastically.
"A little annoyed, really. I'm supposed to be on my way to see..." Tony cut himself off. He almost mentioned Peter. God, how could he be so stupid? Even if this guy was some mediocre kidnapper, Tony still would never mention anything about Peter. He wouldn't put him in danger like that. "...someone. I had dinner plans." Was the lie he settled with.
"I don't fucking care." The brunet growled, clearly fed up with the joking.
"Okay, look. Here's how this is going to go," Tony said, adjusting in his seat when the ties starting digging into his wrist. "You're going to tell me you want my suits - because, let's be real, that's the reason I'm here, I'm going to refuse your demands, you're going to throw useless threats at me, because if you really meant them, then you wouldn't be hiding your face, and then my buddies are going to stop by to kick your ass."
The brunet's reaction was unexpected. He wasn't angry, or scared, or shocked...no, he just started laughing. Tony had to admit that it made him feel a little uneasy.
"That's a cute plan, Stark." He said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "You are missing one step, though."
Tony's uneasiness washed away and he rolled his eyes. The extra step was probably something like you obeying us, or, your Avenger friends being taken down by my own team.
"After you refuse our demands, we won't be threatening you. We won't even hurt you." Now Tony was confused. That was until the kidnapper muttered his next words, which made Tony's blood freeze and caused his heart to race. "No, we're trying another tactic. Let me ask you something, Stark, what are you willing to do to protect Peter Parker?"
No.
No, no, no, no.
Not Peter. Not Peter.
Not his kind, sweet and innocent kid.
Tony's panicked expression soon morphed into anger. "You're bluffing. You don't have him." He growled, glaring daggers at the brunet.
"Oh, I don't? Well, I must've grabbed the wrong kid, then." The man shrugged. The door then swung open, as if on cue, and another man walked in. He was wearing a similar mask to the brunet and he was...dragging an unconscious Peter Parker into the room.
Tony's breath caught in his throat as the other man threw Peter to the ground. Tony prayed that the kid was just faking it, otherwise the kidnappers obviously knew he was Spider-Man, if they were able to knock him out with a certain dose of drugs.
Tony whipped his head back to the brunet, who was grinning. "You sick fuck." Tony snarled. "Let him go right now. This has nothing to do with him. It's me you want."
"You're right. Peter Parker has no information for me, I don't even intend to talk to him at all." Tony hated how he would say Peter's full name. It was like he was mocking him, haha I know his full name. That means I can destroy his life if I wanted to. And you can't stop me.
"No, little Peter Parker is here in case you decide to start getting stubborn on us." The kidnapper smirked.
Realization instantly hits Tony in the face. They didn't take Peter for any real intention, they didn't take him because they know about Spider-Man (hopefully they don't). They took him so Tony would behave.
Meaning, if Tony doesn't obey their orders, they won't hurt him. They'll hurt Peter.
Fuck. These guys were smarter than Tony initially thought.
Angry (or was it scared?) tears sprang in Tony's eyes. "Please, let him go. I'll do anything you want, just don't hurt him. He's just a kid, please." Tony Stark never begs. You would never be able to catch him doing so, ever. But when Peter's life was on the line, he couldn't give one fuck about how pathetic he sounded.
"I know you, Stark. I know the person you are. I also knew that if I took you alone, our project will take double the time. Because you're a stubborn little bitch, just like your father was."
Project?
Tony voiced his thoughts. "What project?"
The kidnapper smiled, glad that he could finally explain his plan. "You see, I don't just want your suits. I want you to build one for me from scratch." Geez, if Tony wasn't getting Afghanistan flashbacks before, he sure was now. "I want you to build me a new one. An upgraded, enhanced weapon. I know you're the only one who can. And if you stall, delay or even hesitate for one fucking second, I'll break Peter Parker's bones. One by one. Maybe I'll start with his fingers. I could chop them off and send them to his Aunt, May Parker. Or maybe Pepper Potts. Then I'll chop of his ears, his hands, his eyes-
"I get it!" Tony yelled, pulling at his restraints, trying to get the man to shut up. He glanced back at Peter, who was still lying limp on the floor. Tony didn't want to cry in front of his kidnapper. He couldn't. But seeing Peter like that, and knowing that there was worse to come...
The kidnapper smirked again. "I'll wait till your little bitch wakes up." He muttered, walking out of the room with the other man following behind. The door shut behind them before Tony heard it lock. He immediately whipped his head down to Peter again, allowing the fear, sadness and anger to show this time.
"Peter? Kid, can you hear me?" He knew his voice was shaking.
And just like that, Peter blinked his eyes open, squinting at the light. He groaned and sat himself up slightly.
"Mr. Stark." He croaked, shuffling towards his mentor.
Tony sighed with relief. "Were you awake the whole time?"
Peter stayed on the ground, trying to make himself look like he just woke up because he knew for certain that there were cameras in there.
"Y-Yeah." He whispered. "They don't know I'm...you-know-who. I'm playing the part."
Oh, you brilliant boy. You brilliant, brilliant boy.
Peter shuffled behind Tony and strategically ripped of the tape around his wrists. Once Tony was free, he instantly wrapped Peter in his arms.
"Oh, Peter. I'm so sorry. Fuck, I'm sorry. This is all my fault. You shouldn't be here. You're fucking here because of me." Tony practically whimpered into Peter's hair.
"Wait, Mr. Stark. Listen to me." Peter sniffed, pulling away and looking at straight at Tony's teary eyes, with his own watering ones. "No matter what happens, no matter what they do, you have to promise me that you won't help them. That you won't...obey them."
Tony blinked at the kid, not sure he was hearing him right. "Are you insane, Peter?! I have to! I'm not going to be the reason you get hurt." He almost yelled, and Peter quickly shushes him.
"W-Wait, but...if I keep pretending to be..." Peter says, lowering his voice. "...a normal kid, then whatever they do won't hurt me as much. S-So...it- it won't be so bad."
Tony was shaking his head before Peter even finished his sentence. "No, Peter. I don't care if it won't hurt as much as they think it will, because believe it or not, they will eventually break you regardless. I'm not going to be the cause of it, do you understand?"
"No. I don't understand. I'm strong, Mr. Stark. I can take whatever they give me, especially with...my powers." Peter whispered. The boy's face suddenly broke and he looked like he was ready to breakdown. "Please, Mr. Stark. You have to promise me. I-I'll be okay, and I'll understand. We gotta do what we gotta do."
Tony bit his lip to hold back a sob. He finally calmed himself down and cursed under his breath, burying his head back into the kid's hair.
"I'm so sorry." Tony choked out, clearly crying. That immediately breaks Peter down as well.
"It's okay...you couldn't have prevented this."
Before Tony could argue to say that wasn't what he was saying sorry for, the door opened up again. Both Peter and Tony tensed and turned to look at the Brunet who was now stood at the door.
"Good morning, sweetheart. How was your nap?" The kidnapper asked Peter. The way he was speaking to the kid made Tony want to throw up. He was obviously flirting with him, in a messed up way.
"Shut your fucking mouth. Don't speak to him like that." Tony snapped. The brunet laughed and turned to address Tony instead.
"Have you come to a decision?"
Tony cursed again, feeling the sting of his tears swarming his eyes. He couldn't say it...he didn't want to...but the way Peter was looking at him, it was so...sad.
You're such a little shit, Parker. "I'm not going to help you." Tony finally managed to choke out, clinging onto Peter tighter. The brunet looked surprised, but then he scoffed. He turned his head around and called out to someone. "Get in here."
The same man who dragged Peter into the room earlier walked in, and Tony panicked.
"Give Peter a little beating. Ruin that pretty face of his."
The older man nodded and walked towards them both. Tony wrapped his arms around Peter tighter, clenching his teeth.
Why did he have to listen to Peter? This was Tony's worst nightmare.
The man yanked Peter away from Tony, a yelp escaping his lips as he was dragged to the wall. Tony stood upwards on impulse, ready to kill whoever he needed to for touching his kid, but was dragged back down by some other masked men from behind. He yanked and struggled, but they didn't give in.
Then, Tony was forced to watch them hurt Peter. Punching him across the face, kicking him in the stomach, yanking at his hair and smacking him against the wall. Peter claimed before that it wouldn't hurt as much since they didn't know about his enhancements, but it looked like he was in agony. Like he was seconds away from passing out. Tony could feel the sting of tears in his eyes at the sight of his precious kid, being beaten bloody, because of him.
Tony clenched his teeth to stop himself from shouting or from giving in and watched as they finally finished with him, throwing Peter to the ground. The men let go of Tony and walked out.
"I'll be back in an hour. Hopefully by then, you'll have changed your mind." The man grunted, leaving the room and locking the door.
Tony immediately leaped forward and held Peter in his arms, the boy letting out a small whimper at the movement.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Fuck..."
"N-No, It's okay...I'm-I'm okay." Peter insisted, trying to calm Tony down.
"No you're not, Peter. Fuck, no you're not. I can't do this, kid. I'm not letting them do this to you again." Tony said, and Peter was already shaking his head in disagreement.
"No, Mr. Stark. You can't. Don't - Don't build that suit for them, please."
Tony didn't answer. He just clenched his teeth and held the kid closer.
Tony did as Peter asked, but it only lasted a day. Peter was bruised, bleeding and broken everywhere. Walking over to the boy with a taser was what made Tony finally crack.
"Wait! Stop, please!" He yelled. "I'll do it. I'll build it, just don't hurt him."
The brunet turned to him with with a triumphant grin. "Perfect. Boys, you know what to do." He turned around and walked out as the other masked men yanked Tony upwards, keeping him in a firm hold. He wasn't able to look at Peter in the eye as he was dragged out.
He was taken to a room that almost resembled a lab, but it was cheap and tacky. They shoved him onto a chair and was given his equipment.
"Get started. I'll give you the blueprints and the planning for it. If you try anything, I'll get my boys to break Parker's legs. Got it?"
"Got it." Tony growled.
Tony felt like he was there for hours, and he could only pray that Peter was alright. That they weren't hurting him behind Tony's back.
Once he was finally dragged back into their cell, his eyes landed on Peter. He was curled into the corner of the room, fast asleep. Tony remembered Peter once telling him that sleeping helps him heal quicker, so Tony didn't disturb him.
Peter started shuffling, trying to get himself into a sitting position as his ribs screamed at him. Tony was instantly at his side, helping him sit up.
"You feeling okay?" Tony asked him with a gentle voice. Even though Peter actually was feeling better since he hadn't gotten a beaten that day, he was still upset.
"You promised me, Mr. Stark. You promised you wouldn't give in."
Tony sighed. "Actually...I never did."
Peter furrowed his eyebrows, thinking back to their conversation a few days ago. Then he realized, Tony was right. He never actually promised anything.
"Fine. Promise me now, then. Promise me that you won't give in again" Peter demanded. A tear ran down Tony's face as he shook his head.
"I'm sorry, Pete. I can't promise you that. I'm not going to be the cause of your agony anymore."
Peter let out a small sob and hugged his legs. Tony broke a little bit more.
"I'm so sorry that this is happening to you, buddy. This is my fault, and don't even try telling me that it isn't."
Peter stayed silent, knowing that there was no point in trying to argue.
A week had passed. In that time, Peter only convinced Tony to say no once. To which they broke his leg, and Tony never refused a demand ever again.
Peter had been worryingly silent. If he wasn't sleeping, then he was just curled into Tony's side, not muttering a single word. When Tony wasn't with him, he would just sit in the corner and stare at the ground.
Tony had almost given up hope, until an ear piercing alarm started going off, along with bright flashing lights. He heard running footsteps and shouting in the distance. The pit of worry in his stomach increased, and he hugged the sleeping boy tighter, extremely worried that Peter wasn't waking up from all the noise, especially with his enhanced hearing.
The door burst open, and Tony's heart stopped.
That was until he saw Steve and Rhodey walked in. He felt tears build up in his eyes, not caring about them seeing him cry.
"Tones!" Rhodey exclaimed with relief, ready to help him up, but Tony moved away.
"Wait, you need to help Peter first. Please. I'm not injured, but he is." He said desperately.
"I'll take the kid." Steve said, reaching to pick the boy up. "Rhodey, check Tony over. You know how stubborn he is."
Tony let Steve take Peter away, and was helped upwards by Rhodey. "Fuck, I'm so glad you're here." Tony said.
"I'm sorry we weren't quicker. The rest of the team is taking those guys down, and grabbing their equipment."
Tony watched as Peter's face scrunched up. He licked his dry lips and finally opened his sore eyes, squinting at the light. He looked around like he didn't know where he was or what was happening. Tony could see when it all came rushing back to him. He looked down at his hospital gown and the cast around his leg. He looked around frantically and found Tony straight away.
"Easy, kid. You're alright." He reassured. "You're safe now. We're home."
Peter let out a relieved breath, tears slipping from his eyes.
"Good, because I'm in so much pain." He whimpered. Tony instantly jumped up, fully prepared to pump more drugs into the boy, and he did just that.
"You'll feel better soon, I promise." He whispered, running his fingers through Pete's hair. "I love you so much...and I'm so sorry."
Peter, in his drunken haze, uttered a few words before he fell back asleep again. "'S not your fault...I love...you too."
Tony smiled, already thinking of staying in the med bay with Peter until he was fully recovered. He was never going to leave his side again.
He also thought it was a good idea to put in tons of safe guarding on all of Peter's devices too. Better safe than sorry.