It's a Spider Thing. {Peter Parker and Natasha Romanoff}

{26} says the spy

THERE WAS A BLACK ABYSS. BODIES PILED ON THE GROUND.

Natasha.

Clint Harley.

Tony. Fury. Bruce.

Steve. Thor.

They were all face down in water that looked like spilled black ink. It rippled as Peter- at least he thought it was himself- trudged forwards. He could see their faces, but he knew by the heavy, shattered feeling in his chest that it was them.

And that they were dead.

His breath caught in his throat and his body jolted to a stop a few feet away, unable to move forwards towards them. Almost like his feet were stuck in mud. Tears burned the backs of his eyes and his fists slammed against an invisible walls keeping him from them- his family.

"You're late." Came a familiar voice.

Deathly pale, Natasha rose from the pile of assembled bodies. Her hands were clutched over her abdomen as dark crimson blood began to pour from a gunshot wound. "You were late. And I paid the price. I thought you had my back?" Her voice sounded as if she was right next to his ear, breathing down his neck and not limping forwards. A bullet hole appeared in her leg and blood seeped out, leaving a trail that filtered into the dark water with her every step.

"Why didn't you have my back, Peter? I needed you and you weren't there." Her voice wavered, eyes trained on the boy and he felt his insides freeze.

"You were born to be a monster. A killer."

"Pack your things- you don't belong here. It isn't your home."

"Can you ever be free? You're Hydra's property."

"This isn't a dream. There's no waking up from this."

Words tumbled from her lips, each more broken and distorted than the last; her body was deteriorating as she reached the invisible wall. More gunshots riddled her body. All that came out of her mouth was unintelligible gurgles and gasps- water dribbled down her chin as she choked for air. Her hands reached to grasp at her throat, leaving behind bloody hands prints.

She slumped against the wall as Peter screamed her name over and over and over until the word caught in his throat, burning just like his tears against his eyelids-

Peter's eyes shot open, ruined breaths barely escaping his lungs.

A sense of unease washed over him as his spider sense spiked and pulsed with his heart that hammered painfully against his chest with every heaving breath.

Blinking away the remnants of the nightmare, Peter slid out from Harley's arms and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck. Peter hardly noticed the shake to his hand and the weak feeling to his knees when he rose to his feet and stumbled out of the bedroom. The corridor was dimly lit.

"Jarvis?" He called, voice faltering.

"I'm here, Peter." The AI had an almost soothing tone to it, and the use of his first name escaped Peter who eased unconsciously at the familiar presence and mumbled a quiet thanks.

Peter didn't realise what he was doing or where he was going until his feet had carried him towards the training room- it was late, only two in the morning according to Jarvis so that entire section of the tower was deserted of living beings.

"Is everything secured?"

It was the third time Peter had asked on his journey. The lights switched on automatically as he stepped into the room while Jarvis replied, "Safe and sound." as patient as ever.

"Thanks." He sighed. The door clicked shut gently behind him. "Put on a song for me buddy?" He added, walking into the centre of the room.

"Of course, Peter."

{YouTube Link}

-

"You know, people would never describe you as silent."

The voice was over his shoulder, but Harley barely flinched as he turned around to face the assassin, stepping away from the training room. "People can be wrong."

"People are idiots, usually." Natasha mused.

The teen noticed that she was wearing a set of plaid pyjama pants and a tank top- Clint's jacket had been thrown over the top. "It isn't polite to spy, you know."

"Says the spy." Harley shot back, swallowing his nerves. Natasha's lip quirked before she rested back against the opposite wall and arched a single eyebrow at the teenager.

There was a beat of silence as Harley fiddled with the hem of his shirt before huffing out a breath and meeting the redhead's expectant gaze. "I was worried about him." He admitted, holding her gaze. "I woke up and he was gone. So, excuse me for having a heart."

Natasha's expression softened. "Heart's good. It keeps you going." She commented while her eyes trailed to the training room and settled there.

Peter was now crouched in the middle of the empty room, his arms held over his head as he simply breathed. She couldn't help but compare the size of the room to his small frame and how the white walls seemed to swallow him whole and wash him out. He looked fragile.

"Do you know what his nightmares are?" Harley questioned quietly.

She looked away. "No. But I don't think I'd want to know either."

A frown pulled at Harley's features and Natasha levelled him with an even stare.

"He has lived through a situation where his body and his mind weren't his own- where he felt disjointed; ripped from safety and sanity. Worth and trust gone, nothing but pain left in their wake." A heavy sigh escaped her lips and suddenly Natasha looked more human than she ever had, sitting against a wall in run down pyjamas with her hair in a loose plait and concern written plainly across her face for everyone and anyone to see. "I am strong enough to admit I don't want to see it again-" the warehouse flashed through her mind, "- especially from someone so young."

Harley gulped. "I want to know."

Natasha's eyes snapped back to him as she hummed for a moment, before her gaze finally returned to Peter. "One day, I'm sure you will. But for tonight Peter needs time and you need sleep." She concluded, shifting. "Come on." With that, Natasha pushed herself off the wall and walked back down the corridor- Harley hesitantly trailed behind. 

A/N

Ok. So. I usually hate putting videos in my stories- but I can't describe dance moves so needs must. And you don't have to watch the video; just picture a ballet esque dance :) I thought it was a nice link to Nat teaching Peter to dance and he channels his emotions through the movements.

Also, the Nat and Harley dyanmic is underrated. I like to think her parental instincts towards Peter sort of translate over to Harley because they're both so young and she doesn't even know she's doing it half the time.

Anywho! Let me know of any spelling mistakes xoxo.