The prize to pay for the lost souls

5

It wasn't until his forth mouthful of pancakes that Peter thought to maybe check his phone. He fished it out of his pocket and opened the screen, just to lock it again immediately, when he saw the seven missed calls and thirty-nine messages. All from Tony. James looked up from his plate with a quizzical look, complete with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't have to worry about him. I won't let anything happen to you." He gave a reassuring smile and reached across the table to grab Peter's hand in his own. Peter nodded and visibly relaxed a little before opening the phone again, scrolling through the messages. All of them a mix of drunken apologies and failed explaining's. He pinched the bridge of his nose, a frustrated sound unwillingly left his mouth.

Pete, come back.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to.

Please, Peter. I need you.

I'm just lonely. And you're not a kid anymore. I can't help the effect you have on me.

Fine. Go home and fuck the assasin.

Traitor.

Is he your soulmate?

You pair yourself with my enemy? The monster who killed my MOM?!

Sorry. Pete. Please come back to me.

We need you, Pete. Morgan needs you.

"I'm not sure how to feel about this, really. I'm scared he might try to kill you if you come back with me. And Morgan is there..." Peter dropped his phone, and his eyes went as big as saucers. "Oh my God. Morgan! I can't leave her with him like this. Should I call Ms. Potts?" His breath quickened at the thought of what Tony might do to her if he was so drunk and lonely and willing to cross so many lines with his 'son'. He looked at James for help, and got a hard nod as confirmation.

"Yeah, make her pick up the girl before we get there. But I don't think he would do anything to her. He doesn't cross me as that kind of monster. We don't have to talk to him, though. Just get the car and leave. I'll be with you the entire time." He rubbed small circles with his thumb on the slender hand cupped in his own, trying to stop it from shaking. Peter studied his face for a second, searching it for some kind of truth he knew James couldn't possibly give him.

"The last messages were sent an hour ago... He's still drunk. I'm gonna call Pepper. Right now." He fumbled with his phone a little, and got up from his chair, leaving his breakfast and bolting to his room for some privacy. He almost ripped his hair off while pacing back and forth, chanting to him self, begging Pepper to pick up the damn phone.

Turns out Pepper was across the country, but she pleaded Peter to go get her, and take her to May and Happy so she could pick her up there later that day. So Peter all but dragged James with him down to the garage, blood boiling through his veins. He stuffed James in the passenger seat and placed himself behind the wheel, making grabbing fingers for the keys. The small amount of panic he got at the table evolving with every breath he took. A very confused Bucky reluctantly handed them over and before he knew what exactly was going on, they were driving way too fast on the highway in the old pickup he was so fond of, but not enough to tell a raging spider to slow down, and he made a mental note not to get on the wrong foot of the guy. A pissed off spider-man was beyond terrifying, and made him question the whole not killing thing he had going for him.

*

They made it to the cabin in record time, but before Peter turned off the engine, he turned to Bucky, the most serious expression covering his beautiful features, if possible shocking the assasin even more.