Tentacles and spider webs

Gone

"So you're Stark's heir." Dr. Octopus sauntered around the small cell, his extra limbs clicking and whirring as he moved. "You'll not only take over Stark Industries but take your father's place as earth's strongest defender. You, a hormonal teenager? I thought he had better taste."

"Okay, first off... ouch." Peter pulled at the chains keeping him bound to the cement and metal wall. The cuffs - that were chafing his skin - like the chains and undoubtedly, the wall itself were made of vibranium. The only metal he couldn't break. "Secondly, I wouldn't be so quick to judge," he gestured to the wet and moldy walls, "this place is pretty gross."

A large tentacle-like arm connected with Peter's jaw, slamming him back against the wall. The crazed doctor towered over the small teen. His four metal arms poised and ready to strike.

"It really is a shame." A gloved hand firmly gripped Peter's chin and forced him to look up. He leaned down, so they were eye to eye. The blood coating the teen's temple and chest went unnoticed. "With your intelligence and powers, combined with my plans and ambitions," he sighed, "we could have ruled the world."

"Sorry, man," Peter drawled, "but I don't swing that way." He spit bloody saliva into his kidnapper's face. One of the clawed arms grabbed Peter's shoulder. As a result, the sharp metal tips piercing his skin and drawing blood. He screamed in agony.

"I like the sound of your screams." Dr. Octavious stepped back and pulled a remote from his trench coat. He clicked one of the many buttons, and the camera in the far corner of the room came to life, immediately zoning in on the bloody and bruised boy. "Let's see how your daddy likes them. I'm sure it would hurt him to see you in so much pain."

Shit, Peter thought, so much for buying time.

******

"What happened? Is everything okay." Ned ran up to Tony and immediately bombarded him with questions. "Where's Peter? Is he okay?"

MJ was right behind him, looking equally determined and worried. "What's going on? Why do we have to stay here?"

"I'll explain everything once we're in a safer place." Tony ushered the teens and their families into the large elevator. Happy stayed behind to collect their luggage.

The elevator doors opened up to the floor, Tony reserved for guests or visiting family members. It was safe and secure but didn't give access to the Avenger's elevator, floors, or anything involving SI

The billionaire led the group to the living room and instructed them to sit. He did well at concealing his terror, keeping up with his well-known facade. Calm and collected. But by the way his hands were shaking, both Ned and MJ knew something was wrong. Very wrong.

"I apologize for the rush and late notice." Tony sat across from Mr. and Mrs. Leeds and Mr. and Mrs. Jones, addressing them first. "But it is my job to keep you safe should any problems arise."

"What sort of problems exactly?" Mrs. Jones asked quietly, pulling her daughter into a side hug.

"As you all know, Peter has an internship with me as my personal assistant. He also works in some of the higher levels of Stark Industries, such as designing and engineering major projects, demonstrations, as well as working with possible business partners." The families nodded in understanding. "Because of this, Peter and I have created safety measures for close family and friends should we run into trouble."

"Is Peter hurt?" Mrs. Leeds voice held nothing but concern. She'd known Peter since he was seven and loved the boy just as much as her son. Everyone looked to the mechanic in nervous anticipation.

Tony's voice wobbled with each word. "He's been kidnapped."

"What?" Ned shot up from his chair, tears already running down his cheeks. He knew that there was more to the internship and that Peter could have been targeted as Spider-Man for any number of reasons. "Who took him? How did he ju-"

"Ned, sweetie." Mrs. Leeds pulled her son against her chest, silencing him gently. She looked back to Tony; her pudgy arms wrapped securely around her son. "Please tell me you're looking for him."

MJ sat in stunned silence. For once in her life, she was left speechless. This wasn't supposed to happen. Not to Peter. Of all people, Peter, that adorable, skinny nerd, did not deserve this.

"How," she cleared her throat, "how did he get kidnapped? Stark tower has the best tech available."

"There was an attack just a block from here. Three bombs went off, and eleven people counted missing. Peter... Peter is one of them." The billionaire rubbed at his misty eyes. "Peter was on his way back to the tower and- and tried to help the injured." He took a deep breath and tried to steady himself. "He got taken in the process." There was a pregnant pause before he continued. "And of course we're looking for him. From the second he didn't come home, we've been searching."

"We?" Mr. Jones asked.

"Friday, my AI, the Avengers, and myself."

"Is there anything we can do?" Mrs. Jones looked to her husband and the Leeds, all willing to do anything to help.

Tony pulled on a pair of his nanotechnology glasses and stood. "Stay here in the tower. This floor," he gestured around the room, "is reserved for guests. You and your families will be safe here. There's more than enough room for two families and plenty of food. Friday will always be here, so call her if you need anything."

"Thank you, Mr. Stark." Both mothers hugged the billionaire, paying no mind to his tense posture and small indignant squeak.

"Mr. S-Stark?" Ned lightly tugged at the billionaire's sleeve. "Will you please update us?"

He squeezed Ned's shoulder. "Of course, kid. And don't worry, we'll do everything we can to find-"

"Boss, a message has just been sent from an unknown source." Friday spoke through his glasses. Her voice was much more pressing than usual. "It is a video. The team is requesting your presence in the conference room to view the file."

"Be right there." Giving a curt nod to the families, Tony rushed to the elevator. "Is there a way to track the source?" He tapped his foot impatiently. He would've been biting his nails had they not already been chewed to a nub.

"I am unable to trace the message." She almost sounded guilty. "Miss Romanov is also looking into it."

"God damnit." He forced himself to take deep breaths. Panicking wouldn't help him find his son. "Thanks Fri. Just keep checking surveillance cameras and traffic cams. Let me know if you find anything."

"Will do, Boss."

The elevator doors opened onto floor eighty-three. Happy was waiting for him, stone-faced and silent. They walked to the Avengers conference room together.

"This wasn't your fault. You know that, right?" He put as much honesty in the words as he possibly could. No one blamed the bodyguard for Peter's disappearance. Happy didn't seem to agree.

"I was driving with him. I shouldn't have let him out of my sight." The ever stoic man looked as if he were about to cry. "I'm so sorry, Boss." And if Happy cried, he was definitely going to cry - like he hadn't cried all last night.

As much as Tony didn't like hugs, he still embraced the large man before him. Happy was more than just his head of security, bodyguard, and driver. He was a long time friend who he could always count on. Happy loved Peter just as much as the team, and Tony knew the man was beating himself with guilt.

"Come on, Hap." The two men stepped into the conference room and were greeted with an entire team of very determined and extremely pissed off avengers. "We've got a kid to save."