Drowning In Oxygen [2] {Sequel}

~ One ~

Peter was there again. He could see Steve talking to the head of -

- and Bruce started getting angry -

- Tony was protesting against the idea -

- Peter was shaking his head, insisting that he had to go with them, he had to go with -

- Tony's eyes were glistening with tears -

- Peter looked away sadly -

- they had water -

- he couldn't breathe.

He couldn't breathe.

He couldn't -

And he woke up.

He was still there, still in that place. He shuddered even thinking about it.

How could he not, though? He was stuck in that place, he'd probably never get out.

The Avengers -

- he could see Tony reaching out to him -

- he gave a sad smile -

- his throat grew hoarse with his screams -

- he wanted to go -

- had to have stopped looking for him by now.

Why would anyone waste their time looking for him? He was worthless. That's all they ever -

- "Worthless boy." -

- "Why wouldn't they give you up?" -

- "Stupid, stupid, worthless." -

- told him.

He clutched his head in pain.

All these memories - they would haunt him until his dying day.

(And he felt it wouldn't be long until then.)

He could barely remember the happy -

- Michelle's rare, happy smile -

- Ned's awestruck look as he entered Stark Tower -

- Clint's challenging look as they played Mario Kart -

- Steve's winning smile as they raced against each other -

- Bucky's cakes -

- Tony's laughs -

- Tony's inventions -

- "Dad, I -" -

- Tony's genuine smile -

- memories he used to have.

He wanted it to stop. He wanted everything to freeze, to make it so that none of this happened, that he was just back at home watching cringey movies and laughing at them.

Not here, being tortured for information he didn't even have, being hurt for their amusement, watching as their expression grew into delight.

They enjoyed this.

One of them walked into Peter's room.

He'd taken to calling it that anyway. Sure, it wasn't homey, but it was much better than some of the other places he'd been dragged to. And besides, he'd always been shoved back in here afterwards.

Of course, it wasn't much. Grey, blank walls. Shackles here and there - they used to have them on Peter before he grew so weak from lack of food and energy that they simply didn't need to anymore.