"Hey."

Peter's smile was strained, before it fell completely. He didn't bother faking it again.

"I - I know - or rather, I hope - that you guys are missing me. I get why you did it, I know I'm less important than - than the world, but it still hurts."

His eyes were glistening, but he made no move to wipe them, instead turning around to check nobody was there.

"It's not your fault," he continued. "I know it's not, and you mustn't believe it's yours, because it's not. Okay? Just - just think that through, for a second."

He turned around again, taking in his surroundings. Maybe he was searching for somebody, ready to turn the camera off.

Tony didn't know. He just wanted to find the address of where this video was taken so that he could get his boy back.

He just needed his boy back.

This was his fortieth time watching it. He hadn't gotten any closer.

He hadn't been able to bear watching the end. Maybe it had a clue, maybe it had Peter being hurt.

He just couldn't risk it.

"I - I wish you guys didn't have to do that, though." Peter tried for a smile again, but it was strained.

He went for a frown instead.

"It hurt. It really did. I - I got sold out by my own teammates, my own father. It would hurt anybody. Especially a person who doesn't have any original family left."

Those sentences always made Tony feel bad.

Only because they were true. True. And doesn't that make him a bad father?

"I know they were bargaining with Steve. I know that it was about me, Steve can't hide anything. And I know that you tried to stop him."

Peter looked down, fiddling with his hands, before he looked up again.

His eyes were bloodshot, Tony noticed. He had deep bags under his eyes, and there was a wound on the side of his head.

He was bleeding.

Peter didn't bother to wipe the blood away. It was like he knew it was useless. There would just be more to come later.

"And when I realised that, I didn't bother to run. I couldn't run. If I ran that could mean that innocents might lose their lives, and I can't be responsible for that."

Tony could still remember when they'd finally told Peter the plan they'd made, Tony with tears rolling down his face, and Peter had made no resistance when they took him to them.

He didn't even know who they were.

Or maybe he did.

(Maybe he said it at the end of the video, but Tony didn't look, he couldn't look, it was too painful, what if he got kil -)

"And I know that maybe these hurt you, these words I'm saying, but they had to be said." Peter's eyes were earnest. "I'm going to quickly say a few notes for each of you, okay? I don't mind if you listen to them. It doesn't matter."

Tony listened intently, whilst simultaneously getting FRIDAY to scan Peter's surroundings.

Even though he'd already done it the other forty times and it hadn't helped at all-

"So, first for Clint. I, um, I know you protested against it. Maybe because you had a wife and a kid, maybe because I'm still just a kid in your eyes, I don't know. Maybe I bring out your paternal instincts?

"More like I bring out your 'act like a child' instincts. Is there a word for that?

"Anyway, Clint, just remember that you're incredible, okay? I love you. And - and we'll get to those archery lessons one day."

Tony almost sobbed.

Clint had promised to give Peter archery lessons the day before he'd been taken - sold out - and that was all Peter was talking about.

Now Tony didn't know if there was a chance he'd ever get those lessons.

"I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid there is no information about where Peter is."

"Okay, FRIDAY," Tony croaked out, his voice hoarse from little usage. It was surprising how much he talked around the kid.

"This is for Natasha. Look, Nat, I know you're afraid of these people, I am too, but it's okay. I'll find you again and everything will be okay, I promise.

"I won't be too hurt, and I know that my mind will still be intact. I can just feel it. So you'll finally be able to teach me how to properly fight!

"I love you, Aunt Nat, I need you to promise you won't forget that. If you think that nobody cares... Just know that I do."

As always, Peter was being selfless, Tony noted fondly. He hoped Peter would never lose that aspect of himself.

And yet... Tony could see the pain in Peter's eyes. The horrors that he had seen, they were all evident in them.

Every single bad thing he'd seen, it added one more cloud to his eyes, making them darker and darker evey passing day.

And Tony wanted that to stop. He wanted his boy to come back to him with the brightness in his eyes, happy and smiling, as though nothing bad had ever happened.

(Even though Tony knew that these people were ruthless, that he wouldn't get out unscathed.)

But he wished, and that was all he could do, right? Up until he found Peter again, until he could hug him and never let him go, because he'd lost him too many times and he didn't want to lose him again.

"I, um, I don't have much time. Bruce, Steve, Wanda, Vision, Thor, even Loki, Scott; whoever else, I love you guys so much. Don't forget me, please."

Peter's eyes were serious as he looked at the screen.

"And finally dad. I know that this was a hard decision for you to make."

Tony stared at the screen, scared of what was going to come next.

(He'd never been able to brave watching his note - what if Peter was angry at him, what if he started yelling? What if he said all of Tony's doubts - that he's a bad father -)

"But I know it was a necessary one. After all - they would've killed you all, wouldn't they? And the world needs the Avengers more than they need Spider-Man."

Peter tried for a smile again. It didn't work.

"But it's okay! I'm not mad, I promise I'm not, I just - I wish we could've thought of a different way. Not that I value my life above anyone else's," he added hurriedly, looking horrified at the thought, "no, no, no! I just wish that I didn't have to leave you all."

Tony looked at Peter's eyes, full of forgiveness, before there were loud footsteps.

Tony gasped, looking behind him quickly, realising that they weren't coming from Bruce or Steve or anyone else.

They were coming from the video.

"Sir, Mr Banner would like to talk to you upstairs."

Tony nodded hesitantly, walking slowly to the elevator, listening out for any hits or whimpers of pain from Peter.

Nothing.

He walked into the elevator, going to Bruce's floor.

"I love you, dad. Maybe you don't anymore. Maybe this video changed your mind. But I - I just wanted to let you know. Before it's too late, you know? In case I - yeah."

Peter's eyes were sad as the video ended.

"Bye, dad. Maybe I'll see you soon. If I go - then I hope I don't see you for a long time. You deserve to be happy."

Peter looked down, not acknowledging the figure behind him.

"I don't."

~~~

Yoooo this is a prologue, it ain't gonna he long (sorry I'm tired imma sleep now) also look below :)

Before you read the rest of this authors note, read this:

This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE! I know that Clint has a wife and three kids, but because everything here has completely changed, I've changed that too. It's an AU, guys, let me be.

(I already know I'm gonna get a bunch of comments on that bit but I know what I gotta do.)

Yeah, Alternate Universe or whatever. Pay attention to those words. It's gonna be important (and I swear if I get comments on the following chapters about 'things I've got wrong' ughhh)

Also, I realllyyyy didn't know how to finish this. I struggled a lot.

I don't know if this is a good plot or what, so leave feedback? Please?

Anyway I'm tired, so... I'm so excited to write this:

I'll see you next next Thursday, my young Wattpadians!

(CEMMY IT'S BACK)

- WriteCrazyForLife

🕸🕷 Until next next Thursday 🕷🕸