Doomed Timeline no. 2: Poison

Chapter One

Peter's POV

"Julez, there's something I need to tell you." I spoke up, working up the courage to tell her I was Spider-Man.

"What?"

"I'm-" I cut myself off, as my phone went off. It was SHEILD, and I had to go, "I'm sorry, I have to go."

"Peter, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Work." I smiled and turned, running off to the Avengers tower. I quickly took the elevator to the top. I moved down the hall to my room, passing the rest of the Avengers and Fury. Once in my room, I pulled on my suit, trying to avoid the sick feeling I had in the pit of my stomach. I walked out of my room and slipped into the living room.

"Parker, you finally showed up."

"Sorry Director Fury..." I murmured, shifting on my feet.

He rolled his visible eye and began to tell us what we would be doing. On the mission, things took a turn for the worse. It was during the major fight when things blurred, and the edge of my vision began to creep in on me. I felt my legs go numb, and stumbled forward, off the beam I was standing on.

I attempted to catch myself, but fell - halfway to the ceiling - forwards, and blacked out before hitting the ground.

Tony's POV

"Peter!" I yelled, as he hit the ground hard, and didn't move to get up. I grabbed the man that was trying to kill me by his shirt, tossed him across the room, and raced over to Peter, "Kid? Hey, c'mon. What wrong?"

He wasn't responding, but I pulled his mask off his head and felt for a pulse upon seeing his eyes closed. It was there, he was still alive, but the pulse was weak. I heard footsteps and spun, only to face my husband.

"How is he?" Steve asked, concerned.

"He should be fine, but we need to get out of here. And soon."

"We also have to finish the mission," Natasha interrupted, "But you two need to stay to protect your son. The rest of us will go."

Steve nodded, and I picked Peter up. He led the way, and we fought off people to get to the aircraft.

"Jarvis! Do a scan on Peter." I ignored my own aching body and set Peter on a table.

"Yes, sir."

Steve paced while I sat, tapping my foot. We were both anxious, and Jarvis finished just as the team filed into the plane.

"Did you guys succeed?"

"Yes."

"Sir, I have a diagnosis."

"Thanks, Jarvis. What is it?" Everyone quieted, waiting for his reply.

"It seems that Peter's Arachnid DNA has left some side effects. It has been slowly killing him for years. Him collapsing in battle was the first of many physical signs, that are almost certain to appear at a later date. I'm sorry sir, but Peter is dying."

The air in the craft stalled, and nobody moved. Finally, the stillness was broken when I stood.

"Tony-" Steve started, and I cut him off.

"We need to get home before my anger explodes and I wreck this ship." I was eerily calm, and everyone knew it. Steve nodded and we immediately started back to the tower.

Fury was waiting for us, “How’d the mission go?” Immediately upon seeing our faces he asked, “Did you fail?”

"No." Natasha's voice was soft, "We succeeded..."

"But it was at a terrible cost..." Clint said, walking in. Steve and I followed close behind, and I was once again carrying an unconscious Peter. My anger had melted away, being replaced with the sheer impact that my son was dying.

"What happened to Peter?" Fury didn't show emotion, but his forehead was slightly furrowed.

"He..." Clint paused, and I placed Peter on a couch.

"He's dying."

"How?" Fury demanded.

"His arachnid DNA has been killing him. He collapsed during battle, and I had Jarvis do a scan."

"We need to allow him to tell his friends." Steve said softly in my ear.

"Yes. Tell him when he comes around." I turned to leave but felt a hand on my wrist.

"Tony, where are you going?"

"To find a cure for our son." I whispered, and pulled away going to my workshop, and getting to work.