The World Is Wide (But I Feel So Small)

Tony

NEW 2020 EDIT: THIS IS NOT STARKER.

Even though Tony knows that this is just a recording and not happening in real time, he cannot help the instinctual feeling of outrage and pure fural anger he feels at the sight of his child being hurt. He finally gives in to the urge to rest his hand against the screen, his fingers stretched wide and cups his son's trembling chin, wishing more than anything that he could wipe away the tears spilling down his bruised cheeks.

The teens lets out a sob through the speakers, almost as though he can feel his father's comforting touch, the sound wet and crackling. Tony growls as the huge chest of a man blocks Peter from his view, almost taking a step back in alarm before remembering that this is just a recording.

The man scoots back, his hair frizzled and face red. He reaches up, the sharp edge of a knife sliding carelessly across his oily cheek as he itches his nose, his other hand gesturing behind him at Peter. Tony can barely see his child behind the man, but he can tell that the teenager flinches at the exaggerated movement made toward him, his whimper of alarm barely audible among his captor's raspy breathing.

Tony feels his blood boil, his free hand clenching so tightly against his still throbbing leg that his knuckles crack. He narrows his eyes, glaring at the screen with so much unflinching hatred that the Arc Reactor seems to glow an even brighter blue then normal, the light reflecting off the screen right in the middle of the man's forehead. Tony wishes he could fire his repulsers at the convenient target now decorating the red-head's face.

Then the man begins to speak.

"Hello Stark. My name is Jason." As he talks, he walks backwards slowly, the knife held up and out like a gun, the blade sharp and pointed right at Peter's defenseless form chained on the ground. "I'm glad to see that the little movie I am making you got through."

Tony listens to the man's gravely and half mad voice coming through the speakers with barely controlled disgust, watching with wide and flickering eyes as the monster gets closer and closer to his child, the knife still on full display.

"I do have to warn you through, it's not a film you want to take the kiddos to see. It's quite. . . brutal."

Finally reaching Peter's side, Jason reaches down and grabs the teenager by his chin, pulling his face up like he has done it a thousand times. Peter lets out a cry of pain, his hands reaching up to pull at the man's fingers, brown eyes wide and locked onto his Dad's through the screen. Tony grips the table top, feeling his chest ache at the look of pain that flashes across his baby's face.

The man pushes Peter down after a few seconds, the knife twisting down suddenly and cutting a long gash through the teen's black shirt, right above his collar bone, the material turning a darker shade as the young Stark gasps. His face turns red, eyes spilling a few stray tears as he seems to fight for control. Tony snarls, feeling his lips curl as Jason's face splits into a broken grin, his beefy hands rubbing together as he looks down at his prisoner.

"Now that I know that I have your attention, Iron Man, I need you to do me a favor." The man looks at the camera, his beady eyes finding the genius's as he lifts one hand, the other gripping the knife more securely before he turns around. He walks back over the the center of the room, his steps measured and slow. "I am in desperate need of some money, a lot of money. And what do you have?"

At the condescending tone, Tony grits his teeth, resisting the urge to spit on the screen as the man comes to a stop, his large frame blocking the rest of the room (as well as Peter) behind him. Jason pauses in his speech, as through waiting for an answer he knows will never come. Finally he answers his own question, his tongue darting out to wet his dry and cracked lips.