The Void

Chapter 23 - You Let Him Go

(Peter's POV):
I arrived outside of the tower, completely exhausted and freezing from the cold temperatures. I swung up onto the deck and ripped my mask off as I limped inside the building. Unsure if Mr. Stark has been informed of my arrival because I entered unconventionally through the deck, I called out, "hey, F.R.I.D.A.Y., can you let Mr. Stark know that I'm here?"

"Hello, Peter, Mr. Stark is on his way," the A.I. replied as I collapsed in the nearest chair.

Mr. Stark came running in a minute later with Captain America on his heels, a wave of relief passing through both of them when they noticed that it was only me. However, Mr. Stark tensed up again when he realized the state that I was in.

I quickly leapt to my feet, wincing as I placed weight on my leg, "Mr. Stark, I'm so sorry for coming unannounced, but-"

"Kid, what happened to you?" He interrupted me, examining the cut on my cheek. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. can I get a full run down of his injuries?"

"Nothing too serious, sir. A couple cuts and abrasions, but his leg is hurt pretty bag. I would recommend getting that fixed up," she replied before I had a chance to explain.

"I'm fine, Mr. Stark, but I need to tell you what happened," I replied, causing him to hold up his hand to stop my talking.

"First we're getting you down to the med bay, then you can tell me what idiotic thing you did this time," Mr. Stark spoke, wrapping my arm around his neck so that I could rest my weight on him instead of my leg.

"But Mr. Stark it wasn't my fault-"

"Unless the world is about to explode, you can tell me about it after we get you fixed up," he interrupted again as he lead me into an elevator and brought me down to the med bay.

F.R.I.D.A.Y. had clearly told them that I was arriving because most of the doctors had cleared out in order to protect my identity, except for a few who were deemed trustworthy. I was stripped my suit and they immediately began to fix up my leg, cleaning it and bandaging it up for me. Bruises formed were Void had hit me, but the cut on my face had already closed up thanks to my super healing.

"So, kid, what happened out there?" Mr. Stark asked, taking a seat next to my bed once the doctors were finished with me.

"Void got me," I finally told him, watching his eyes widen. "She brought me to this apartment in Queens and gave me to these two other masked individuals. But, it gets weirder. They put her in charge of the interrogation but she let me go instead. I don't understand why she would go through the trouble of capturing me if she was just going to release me."

"Did they find out who you are?"

I shook my head, "they don't know my name, but they know my face."

"Then capturing Void has to be our top priority. We have to find out her motives as well as who she's working for so that your identity doesn't get out."

"Mr. Stark, were you listening to me? I said that Void let me go, I don't understand why she would do that."

"I don't know either, Pete. But we can ask once she's been brought in."

(Your POV):
My parents rushed into the room at the sound of my scream, noticing first the empty chair before turning on me. My father was the first to speak, his voice a low and accusatory growl, "You. Let. Him. Go?"

"I didn't let him go, he figured out to free himself and then webbed me to the wall," I replied, struggling against the webs. "He's learned since the last time we met because he webbed my knife to me as well. And for good measure, he stabbed me before crawling out the window. Would you be able to get some fire to burn the webs, ordinary blades don't cut through it and I can't get mine out."

"Why should we help you when you've just let Spider-Man, escape?" My father hissed, pressing the blade I had stabbed myself with further into my leg. I inhaled sharply, but refused to give him the satisfaction of a verbal response.

My mind was still racing as I hung there, letting my father hurt me. Peter Parker was Spider-Man. That stupid little nerd that I had been crushing on was actually my worst enemy. And I had just let him go. I had betrayed my parents to save him, to protect his identity. And that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part was that I didn't feel bad about it and I knew that I would let Peter escape again in a heartbeat if it came to that.

My father then picked up the tools I had planned to use for interrogation and turned to be with anger in his eyes. I knew what was coming before the blade broke my skin, trying to keep myself from acknowledging how much pain I was in.

"Did you find out anything before you let him slip through your clumsy fingers?!"

I shook my head, "he must have known that he couldn't escape when all three of us were there. He waited until I was alone and tricked me into thinking he was still bound, but then he kicked me back and webbed me against the wall."

"You're lying," he growled, plunging the blade in again.

"Why would I lie?" I cried out in response, the taste of salt in my mouth making me realize that I had lost the hold I had on my tears.

"Because you let him go."

"That is completely ridiculous! Why would I have brought him in in the first place if I was just going to help him escape, knowing full well that I would get punished for it?"

Nothing I said seemed to matter as my father continued to beat me, demanding to know information that I either could not give him or refused to let slip. I had to protect Peter, he was just a scared little seventeen year old who was trying his best to be a hero. I didn't know why he was crazy enough to think that he could save the world, he was only a teenager. But if he were going to continue risking his life, I had to be there to protect him.

-

(A/N): I just got back from Rise and Skywalker and oh my god I have so many emotions. I've finally stopped sobbing, but if I think about the events of the movie again my tears will probably start back up. If there's anyone else who's seen it or are planning to, message me once you have because I would love to talk about it with you! In the meantime I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and some Peter/Tony interaction!