Alone

Pocket Full of Posies

"We're going to play a little game here. Have a little bit of fun. I suppose you're getting pretty hungry, 'specially you, spider boy. We're going to play a game for some food, okay?" The man says, grinning sadistically at the two of us.

As if on cue, Peter's stomach growls. He's used to eating 3 or 4 meals a day plus snacks whenever he wants to. It's been 3 days since he's had anything to eat, no wonder he's not healing too well.

"What are we supposed to do?" Tony asks, knowing there's no way around this and if they might get food if they win... they might as well cooperate.

The man's eyes light up with delight and circles around Peter's chair very slowly.

Both the heroes hearts are now racing, desperate to win whatever trial he's going to put them through. Tony wants to win and give the food to the kid, and Peter's so hungry that he's barely thinking straight. Earlier, he was too busy fearing for his life to think about food, but the moment it was mentioned, it felt like a monster was let loose on his insides, desperate to escape him. It was ripping at the inside of his stomach, making him want to keel over in pain.

"Michael! Come on in here! Bring the fun stuff!" The man calls out, giving us a sideways glance.

Another man saunters into the room. He's younger than the first man, but taller and more muscular. He's probably one of the guards they'd have to fight if they could try to escape. He has pushed back dirty-blond hair, dark blue eyes, and a sneer. He rolls his eyes the moment he looks at the prisoners, giving Tony a little wink before turning to the first guy.

"Having fun, Kínzó? You better hurry this along because this isn't going to end well if we're found," Michael says, leaning towards his leader.

The man, apparently Kínzó, nods as though he expected him to say that. "Yes. I'm following the plan to the exact like I swore I would. I'm having more fun than I've had in 19 years, Michael. Do you have what I asked for?"

The blond nods and passes over a small cardboard box with a roll of his eyes.

"This might be the dumbest idea you've ever had, but I'm not going to try to fight with you on this anymore. Have fun," he says sarcastically before stalking out of the room again.

Tony is honestly terrified. He wishes he could protect the poor boy from the horrors of all this. Peter's staring at him as though expecting him to just turn into iron man and get them out of this place, but he can't. He's trapped just like Peter is, and there's nothing either of them can do to escape. Tony's just hoping Pepper and Happy have noticed their absence and are trying to find them.

Kínzó opens the cardboard box and pulls out 2 simple pistols, confusing the captives.

"You gonna shoot us? Finally just kill us?" Tony says with false confidence.

"Nope. I'm not done with you two yet. I offered you food if you do the one thing I ask you to do. I will give each of you a gun with one bullet inside. You must shoot the other person. If you miss, punishment for both of you. If you hit me, I'll kill the other. If you shoot yourself, punishment for the other. If you simply refuse, punishment. Understand the game?" Kínzó explains, spinning the weapons on his fingers with an easy going smile.

"You want me to shoot him?" Tony repeats incredulously. Peter stays uncharacteristically quiet, not even looking at anything, but the floor. "Are you kidding?! He's 15! He's just a kid!"

"Yeah well, who's fault is it for bringing a kid into this mess in the first place? It's up to you both if you want to participate or not, but I've got a plane to catch in a couple hours, and I'll be gone for a few days. So if you decide to deny, you might die of starvation." He cackles as Peter's stomach growls again.