Okay let's see If it works this time- let me know what you think.

*cliché narrator voice* Previously on 'Just Peter Parker...

The four of them sit in silence, trying their best to keep calm. And for the first time since they’ve arrived, Harley speaks:

“Guys? What if we don’t get out of here?” No one says anything, though Harley was the only one to voice what they’d all been thinking. “What if Osborn wins? What if... what if we fall?”

****

     Peter has no idea how long they’ve been here, but it had to be at least a few days. The man had come back several times, dragging Peter to the room where they tried to break him. With each trip it’s become more and more difficult to stay strong; the thought of his friends in his other room is the only thing keeping him from giving in.

     “You know, I’m pretty sure this is illegal.” Peter states casually, trying to ignore the pain. Over the past few days they’ve beaten and tortured him, knowing he wouldn’t fight back. Not when his friends were in the other room, at the mercy of none other than Harry Osborn. 

“Oh without a doubt. But you see if you know the right people, you can get away with anything.” Harry states, taking even steps across the room. Peter’s in the chair he’d seen when he first arrived, his hands and feet bound by metal cuffs. His wrists were red and bruised from the metal. Harry had never been present for any of Peter’s ‘treatments’ as they were called, so the fact that he was here this time had Peter worried.

“So what’re you doing here, Harry? Don’t you have some important meeting or something somewhere other than here?”

“No, this I wanted to be here for. You see Peter, today is the day where the pieces start falling into place.” Peter glances to the ‘doctor’ that had been in the room. He looked hesitant, as if he wanted to be here just as much as Peter did.

    The teen’s heart races as he watches him ready the equipment. It looked similar to the time Peter’d had blood tests done at the MedBay after a villain had poisoned him. Only these looked more dangerous, and a lot less sanitary. The syringe was filled with a light green liquid, and whatever it was Peter wanted no part in it. 

“W-What’re you doing?” 

“Just a few blood tests, a few experiments, and soon after that we’ll be done and you’ll be of no use.” 

“Experiments? Like the ones from my biology class? Because I gotta tell ya, I’m not really into being dissected..”

They say nothing, simply continuing to prepare for whatever they had planned. And for the first time since they’ve arrived, Peter doesn’t bother to hide his fear. Despite everything else he’s gone through over the past few days, he’s never been more afraid.

A sharp pain runs down his entire spine as whatever was in the syringe is injected, just at the base of his skull. His entire body feels as if he's being burned, and Peter can’t help but scream as this unknown poison fills his veins. It’s almost like when he first gained his abilities, only worse. Way, way, worse. The pain hasn’t even subsided when one of Harry’s minions steps in the room, a scary looking knife in his hand. 

“Well, this should be fun.” Harry smiles, seeing the fear and pain in the boy’s eyes. This is what he’s been waiting for, and he’s going to enjoy every minute of it. 

***

A few hours later and he’s back in his cell. The others can only sit and watch as the boy lays in defeat, keeping his face hidden from the others. They don’t know what to say, watching the one who’d been optimistic since their arrival fall apart before their eyes. 
 
“Peter?” The teen shakes his head, his quiet sobs giving the others a sense of hopelessness. “What did they do to you?”

“I-It’s over…” He stutters through tears. “W-We lost.”

“What do you mean we lost?” MJ questions.

“I mean we lost. It’s over, we’re done. I can’t save us.”

“Of course you can! You’re Spider-Man for goodness’ sake!” Ned chimes in cheerfully, attempting to reassure his broken friend. 

“No, I’m not. I’m just Peter Parker.”

That’s all he was. A tired, broken kid from Queens. They’d used the same Gene cleanser that Spidey had used on Dr. Connors, leaving Peter without any super powers. Nothing special, just him. Like he used to be. They’d finally done it. They’ve broken him.

“Just Peter Parker?” Harley speaks up, taking a few steps forward. “Peter you are more than what you give yourself credit for. You’re the smartest one here.” Harley takes a seat on the floor across from Peter. “Do you remember what Dad said the day you finished training with Aunt Tasha?”

Silence.

“He said, and I quote, ‘I’m proud of you, Pete’. He didn’t say Spidey, or Spider-Man. Because he was proud of you, not Spider-Man. You.” 

“I-I’m sorry, Harley… I can’t.”  

Peter can hear one of them sigh in disappointment as they walk to the other side of the room. The pain in his body is nothing compared to the pain he feels knowing he disappointed his friends. Knowing that they’re not going to go home and see their families again; that they are made to face the consequences of his actions.

He’s failed. As a hero, and as a friend. Maybe he would’ve been better off had Harry just killed him. Because now, now he was nothing. 

Peter had fallen asleep- likely unconscious- shortly after his conversation with his brother. Without his advanced healing, he was weak. He was broken. The other three all sat in silence, nothing to say. No words of encouragement. No plans on how to get out. Nothing.

They remained that way until someone came into the cell, a malicious look in their eyes and a gun in their hand. Harry had broken Peter, now Harry was going to break his friends. His family. 

“He’s had enough…” MJ speaks up, her voice breaking. “Just leave him alone.”

“Lucky for you, we’re not here for him.” The man standing in the doorway answered, laughing. The three knew what that meant; Harry wasn’t done with Peter, and the last and final way to hurt him would be to hurt those he loves. The man grabs MJ by the arm, unphased as she kicks and fights to get away from him.
 
“MJ!” Harley yells as he lunges forward, hoping to help her fight him off. But the soldier presses the gun to her temple, freezing both him and Ned where they stand.
 
“You move, I shoot.” She is dragged away, Ned and Harley yelling after her. They’re terrified, powerless as she is taken away and the cell door slammed shut. Peter’s given up and MJ’s been taken, likely to be Harry’s next victim of torture. At this point, they could only pray for a miracle.

Aaaand there it is! Part two of this cringeworthy one-shot series.

Also, just a reminder that I love you guys so much, and I'm so incredibly thankful that you take the time to read this story!

I honestly don't know how to thank you guys. You're the best.

I larb you sooo much my amazing arachnids,

Nat